It has been exactly one month since this horrific genocide began. Millions of lives in distraught. Democracy, freedom, sovereignty, humanity, and more destroyed by missiles and bullets shot at the order of a crazy man. A man that not only is ready to kill his neighbors, but also to do it while brainwashing and oppressing his own people.
It is very difficult to imagine it has already been one month of this senseless attack...and ongoing. It feels just like yesterday we were all still in Ukraine enjoying a peaceful life. But that is far from the truth. Till now mothers are losing sons, children are losing parents, wives losing husbands and what not.
Just last night before sleeping I watched a video of people cooking soup inside the metro station in Kharkiv. Such is life. I watched a video of locals burying their neighbors in the courtyard of their buildings in Mariupol. Such is life. Millions stranded in neighboring countries, still looking for what can be called "normal". Praying for those left behind while struggling to seek out a future or whatever close to it can be called "stable".
Today marks yet another important day that will eventually be very significant in the history books of the future. Why couldn't the war be stopped in a month which could have been stopped in a few days? Because of a madman with his finger twitching over nuke launch buttons? Or is there a different reason we do not see or simply do not accept to see?
Today, the president of Ukraine urged the people to get out on the streets. To make noise. To be heard. To be seen. To shake the world and urge everyone to take action. It's been a month already. I want to go back. Most of us do. But we can't. How much longer will this all continue?
I was lucky that the demonstration triggered by Zelenskyy crossed my path. I was lucky to go and stand with the roaring voice. All this is in front of the Russian consulate in Krakow. At least four or five hundred people gathered here. Some locals, some Ukrainians.
Children, mothers, friends, there were people from all walks of life. A band of drums and snares led the demonstration. With a police escort and security. We sang the Ukrainian national anthem, we chanted "ruski voyenni karabel idi na hui". "Jump if you don't stand with Ukraine" and all these hundreds of people jumped in union. They used microphones to shout out to the people inside the embassy that they were being lied to. Reminded them that Putin is a murderer and liar. Roared "Slava Ukraini, Heroim Slava". Outside the embassy there now is always extra metal barricades and police. But so are explicit messages and placards.
My time (so far 1 day) has been no less than incredible. In this short amount of time, I have met some very incredible, intellectual, and kind-hearted people and I cannot wait to share more about them. I probably do not know enough words to describe most of them and my experiences here. But lets leave that for the next post.
