a Kind of Refugee / 22.09.2023
Hello from Kyiv! Writing the contextual background for my book of a Kind of Refugee dispatches from the first year after russia’s full-scale invasion has meant re-immersing myself in the recent past. Even if it’s only the sliver of history that I remember experiencing and thinking about… it’s intense.
Present-day life goes on in-between. Listening to news of the Ukrainian military’s latest exploits; to analysis of international political events; and of course to air raid sirens, anti-aircraft defense at work, and the occasional explosion that occurs within hearing range.
The war in Ukraine is far from won.
Today we hit the command post of the russian Black Sea fleet in occupied Sevastopol. This is more than a significant military move. The russian Black Sea fleet has been stationed in Sevastopol since the collapse of the USSR. After independence Ukraine signed a treaty allowing russia to lease the Sevastopol naval base and to share the waters of the neighboring bay until 2017. The agreement was annulled unilaterally by russia after it illegally took control of Crimea in 2014. I visited Sevastopol in 2012, when some prescient friends of mine organized an art exhibition there: it was called Disputed Territory.
Throughout Ukraine’s past 32 years of independence, Sevastopol was always somewhat russian. Through its blatant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law and utter disregard for life as such, russia has forfeited any chance for further murky, half-tone “understandings.” Today russia will not find any safe harbor or goodwill on Ukraine’s territory.
We—everyone committed to fighting until Ukraine’s victory—are taking great losses because of ongoing sluggishness to see and accept russia’s actions for what they are—audacious and underhanded land-grabs permitted by fear of russia’s nuclear arsenal. But we have refused the path of appeasement.
A belief in the ultimate power of economic interests and goodwill to overcome violence is making humans—as political beings—impotent.
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The war in Ukraine is changing the world and the people fighting it are changing too. Not merely as victims or objects of violent attack, but as subjects engaging with historic events and choosing how to engage.
The urgent energy inherent in defending your life from violent attack is driving many other actions in the Ukrainian civilian communities around me. Because life, whether personal or civic, must be about more than protecting itself. Culture is thriving. Performances, concerts, discussions. My friend learned to drive and then bought a car. People’s degree of commitment to what they are doing has increased across the boards.
Residents from my building cooperative are meeting to demand that the superintendent and governing board comply with the cooperative’s rules and policies, starting with holding elections for a new board, which are long overdue. It’s grassroots politics at its essence. How could I possibly stand by? Last weekend I walked around every floor, knocking on doors to finally meet my neighbors.
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I am grateful to my friends who are reading my book manuscript and offering consultations; who are inviting me to read from a Kind of Refugee at events they’re organizing abroad; and for every word of support and encouragement and permission to abandon everything but writing!
And I am grateful to my friends who are protesting the loud voices in the US calling to stop US aid to Ukraine; who are writing about and performing moments from Ukraine’s cultural history for audiences who deserve to know about it; who are involved in advocacy campaigns, urging their government reps to keep supporting Ukraine, and helping their neighbors do the same!
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I’ll be back to business here in October.
Till then, I encourage you to peruse The Cosmopolitan Globalist, published by the brilliant Claire Berlinski.
She is one of few Americans I’ve encountered in public discourse who truly senses the threat that russia’s war on Ukraine poses to the entire world. Delivered with passion and clarity, her observations and arguments are grounded in history and an understanding of political culture, where speaking and writing are a matter of principle.
I recommend this piece from 2022: "The West doesn't realize how much danger it's in."
And a more recent conversation with the bright, well-connected, and broad-thinking Vladislav Davidzon. If you’re short on time, start at 1 hr 17 m 30 s:
PS The “Backfire” drone that my intrepid Ukrainian military friends designed and have been employing to strike targets behind enemy lines has been approved by the Ministry of Defense for official use by the armed forces. While awaiting the necessary paperwork to sign a government defense contract, they are still producing these “angry birds” thanks to donor funding. You can help bring Ukraine’s victory closer!
Thank you for sharing, I'm hoping to travel one day soon and by train to Lviv - looks beautiful!