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1/3 In a St. Petersburg courtroom, a 19-year-old girl delivered a speech of incredible courage—in Putin’s Russia. The student, Daria Kozireva, was on trial for "discrediting the army" (Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation)—for having affixed a piece of paper featuring a poem by Taras Shevchenko to a monument of the Ukrainian poet, on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion. Here is his final word: ⸻ "If Taras Grigorievich were to happen upon our time, people here might expect me to say something that would leave him struck into silence. But no. He wouldn’t even be surprised—not in the slightest. A all-too-familiar scene would unfold before his eyes: Muscovy, creeping forward once again. Naturally, this war did not begin in 2022. Even in the narrowest sense, one could consider 2014 the starting point—a conflict initiated by the Russians themselves, who bear the guilt for every drop of blood shed. In a broader sense, however, this war has been raging for hundreds of years. It is a peculiar feature of Russian history: regardless of which regime holds power, some internal, quasi-religious impulse within that regime simply refuses to let Ukraine go in peace. Tsars, Communists—it makes no difference what guise they wear; they are all the same. After all these centuries, one would think they might finally grasp a simple truth: just leave. Yes, Moscow has won many times, but it has never achieved a definitive victory—and it never will. The Ukrainian people will no longer permit it. They have had enough. Those who crave occupation have never understood this. They are not particularly intelligent, no matter how much they might wish to appear otherwise. No one granted them the right to dictate Ukraine’s past or its future. They fail to realize that Ukrainians have no need for an 'elder brother'—and certainly not for the notion of a 'triune Russian nation.' Ukraine is a free nation—a truly free nation—and it shall determine its own destiny. As for those who parrot the invader’s narratives—the Ukrainian people will hold them in contempt. And there is no need to start talking about 'nationalists'..." ...Ukrainians." You are bringing this about yourselves. If you push your way into Ukraine — you will find out. And perhaps quite painfully. I sincerely hope the Russians remember these fundamental truths: Ukraine — once again — is a free nation. It will decide for itself which path to take, whom to consider a brother, and whom to regard as an enemy. It will decide for itself how to treat its own history. And, furthermore, it will decide for itself which language to speak. I believe I am stating the obvious, yet for many, these things are not yet obvious at all. Putin cannot even conceive of Ukraine as a sovereign nation. And there is much else that eludes his understanding — such as human rights or democratic principles. Even those who are supposedly opposed to the Putin regime do not always grasp this. They do not always understand that Ukraine, having paid for its sovereignty with blood, will decide for itself how to live. I want to believe that with the arrival of democracy, this attitude will change. I want to believe in a future where Russia abandons its imperialism — whether overt or covert. God willing. May it only be God’s will. I have already mentioned, during various discussions, that any talk of "chains" in relation to Ukraine would be inappropriate today. Ukrainians will no longer allow themselves to be humiliated. And, indeed, they do not permit it now. Yet, in the time of Shevchenko, chains were, unfortunately, a reality. His poetry did not contain calls to fight the Muscovites; the time was not right, and the hopes were not the same. His patriotic creative work is a cry—a cry over the cruel fate of Ukraine, a cry for the forgotten glory of the Cossacks, and a cry over the errors and defeats that led Ukraine to lose its freedom.