I started writing this post 2 days ago, on Friday 28th July when we celebrated the Day of Christianization of Rus' and Statehood Day of Ukraine. Two significant dates in our life. And therefore this post will not be about vacations, shopping, or the beauty of nature, but about Ukraine and things you don't know about it (I am almost sure 😀)
As a foreign reader, you may have asked yourself what was the cause of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Why did Russia dare to break all established rules and attack Ukraine in the 21st century?
Perhaps you have heard versions about the role of the USA and NATO, which allegedly benefit from this war. After all, war always benefits someone. But it was the Russian army who crossed the state border, and it did it for the first time in 2014.
So, after the collapse of the USSR, 15 countries were formed that declared their independence. So why did Russia openly attack Ukraine? Everything is simple. Russia claims the role of the newest empire and superpower. And this is impossible without Ukraine. That's all.
And then the interesting begins. In 980, Prince Volodymyr began a religious reform, as a result of which Russia switched from paganism to Christianity. We celebrate this very event on July 28. At that time, no states existed on the lands of present-day Russia. Even Moscow was founded later (first mentioned in 1147). And our state was simply called Rus, or the Great Principality of Kyiv, and not Kyivan Rus because there was no other Rus.
Muscovite tsars rewrote history for many centuries, starting with Ivan the Terrible. In those days, the only reliable source was manuscripts, from which handwritten copies were made, not always accurate, sometimes intentionally. Then the originals burned, and the new version remained. And so on. Thus, century after century, Muscovites created myths that Muscovy had hereditary rights to Rus and that Muscovy and Kyivan Rus had common historical roots.
As a result, the younger sister (Moscow) turned into an older brother, stealing his name (Rus -> Russia) and subordinating the church to herself in an almost thuggish way. Ukraine was, so to speak, an internal name, that is, that is what Ukrainians called their country among themselves. For the rest, it was Russia.
For Russia, the antiquity of history is extremely important because, without a great past, it is impossible to create a great empire. Therefore, it is necessary to correct one's historical past, and even to appropriate someone else's. This applied equally to history and culture, when a huge number of outstanding Ukrainian artists turned first into Soviet, and later into Russian (as you understand, not by their own will). In my opinion, there is only one category in which Russia is the undisputed leader - the creation of fakes.
This is a thing of the past. There is another reason, more understandable and close to modern society - money, or rather wealth.
It turns out that Ukraine is a rich country. Although I know that if you come and compare the standard of living of Ukrainians and Germans or French, the comparison will not be in our favor.
What would you say if you found out that Ukraine ranks 4th in the world in terms of the total value of natural resources? No way! Let me surprise you with numbers.
1st place in Europe in terms of explored extracted reserves of uranium ores.
2nd place in Europe, and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves.
2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons or 12% of world reserves).
2nd place in the world in terms of iron ore reserves (30 billion tons).
2nd place in Europe in terms of reserves of mercury ores.
3rd place in Europe (13th in the world) in terms of shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters).
3rd largest exporter of iron in the world.
Want a clue as to where most of these stocks are located? In the Black Sea (Crimea) and in the Donetsk region. Now tell me about the protection of the Russian population and so on. Russia is not able to take care of even the minimal welfare of its people!
Now it's worth mentioning the Russian bombs that are sown in the Ukrainian fields and the recent shelling of the ports of Olesya and Mykolaiv, specifically the grain terminals. Russia is trying to prevent Ukraine from selling grain, particularly to African countries. Instead, she offered them her grain for free. How do you like this struggle with competitors? It turns out that it is possible. In front of all those populists who sell their people the struggle for peace, ecology, and human's rights all over the world.
A few more figures from the agricultural sector and industry:
1st in Europe by land area.
1st in Europe for ammonia production.
3rd place in the world by the area of chernozem (25% of the world volume).
1st place in the world in the export of sunflower and sunflower oil.
2nd place in the world for barley production and 4th place for barley export.
3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world.
4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world;
The world's 4th largest manufacturer of missile launchers.
4th largest producer of potatoes in the world.
5th largest producer of rye in the world.
5th place in the world for bee production (75,000 tons).
8th place in the world in terms of wheat exports.
9th place in the world for the production of chicken eggs.
When I came across this information I didn't believe it. It appeared on the Internet in 2021, and then before the war itself, in the winter of 2022. It was published by serious Ukrainian media with reference to Oleksandr Sokolovsky, a member of the Presidium of the Council of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine and to Andrew J. Futey the President of the Ukrainian Congressional Committee of America (USA).
Okay, I can talk a lot about it. I just wanted to share with you what impressed me
Meanwhile, yesterday I turned 6 years. 😊😂🌺
Remembering how this journey began for me, I had no idea where it would lead me 6 years later. But I know for sure that I am still here because of you and thanks to you.
I dream of the day when only birds will fly in the sky over my Ukraine. Okay, and civilian aircraft. No bombs and missiles. When I plan my day regardless of possible air raids. When everyone can go home alive.
💙💛
@zirochka