VOX POPULI: The war in Ukraine enters its 3rd year with no end in sight
On Feb. 24 exactly two years ago, acclaimed Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov was jolted awake by the boom of a missile landing in Kyiv.
There were three strikes at 5 a.m., then two more one hour later.
“There was no doubt anymore that a war (with Russia) had begun, but I still did not want to believe it,” Kurkov wrote in his “Diary from an Invasion.”
In the book, he serenely chronicles his life over a period of a little over six months, interspersed with his observations about the history of his beloved Ukraine and the complexity of its language.
He, too, was one of many Ukrainians who were forced to flee far away from home.
War destroys routine life. But sadly, war has become a way of life in Ukraine in the last two years. In his recent social media post, Kurkov commented to the effect, “This war will be drawn out, and we must learn to live with it.”
According to a colleague of mine who is reporting from Ukraine, air raid alerts were issued in Kyiv 25 times in the last month or so, totaling 29 hours.
Once issued, an alert can last for several hours. When parting with a friend, there is the thought that their paths may not cross again.
That is probably what living in wartime boils down to.
Ukraine is not the only victim of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression. Also under attack are freedom of speech in Russia and international social order. We must not forget that.
Kurkov noted in his diary that the lives of Ukrainians have been segmented into “before the war” and “during the war.” And he added to the effect, “Of course, we are all praying for the eventual arrival of the ‘postwar’ era.”
Its arrival can never be too soon.
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 24
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Related articles
Life sentence for gang member who turned northern Virginia into 'hunting ground'
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Even in the violent world of the MS-13 street gang, the killings in northern2024-05-01Junta forces Rohingyas to protest ethnic rebels in Myanmar’s Rakhine state — Radio Free Asia
Junta authorities in western Myanmar forced hundreds of Rohingya Muslims to protest an ethnic rebel2024-05-01Pictured: Wealthy estate agent, 60, with lover, 54, he is accused of murdering at luxury five
A wealthy estate agent has appeared in court accused of murdering his ex fiancée at a luxury hotel u2024-05-01Lawsuit alleges negligence in hiring of maintenance man accused of torturing resident
BALTIMORE (AP) — April Hurley’s attacker entered her apartment after identifying himself as the buil2024-05-01Minor league infielder Keiner Delgado traded from Yankees to Pittsburgh Pirates
BALTIMORE (AP) — Minor league infielder Keiner Delgado was traded from the Yankees to the Pittsburgh2024-05-01- NEW YORK (AP) — Zack Gelof hit a two-run homer off Victor González in the ninth inning, and the Oakl2024-05-01
atest comment