Regarding PTSD: I've been guilty of broadly assuming that Ukraine as a whole will face some level of PTSD when this atrocity is over. Your opinion on the matter is humbling, however. Ukrainians have shown inconceivable strength and resolve in living and fighting through this immoral war. Inconceivable to this Westerner at least. This is not familiar territory for society in America. Our fight for independence is literally ancient history. Yes, we have our own tragedies over here and they cannot be overlooked but we've never been tested on a level that Ukraine is facing.
There's strength in your country's history. That strength seems to be deeply inherent in your culture. Maybe that's the difference in how Ukraine will deal with the aftermath. Maybe the physical rebuilding of the nation will help to heal the unseen wounds in your souls.
I do hope that the knowledge and resources are widely available for those whose trauma lingers after crossing the finish line to peace and freedom. It's the least that can be done for such courageous defenders of freedom and democracy.
Thank you, Justin, for you powerful and encouraging words! You write beautifully. I encourage you and all Americans to reach back to your (our, US) fight for independence as a source of power and strength to face the challenge that russia's invasion of Ukraine is throwing at the whole world. Your words and actions will shape the outcome of this war. Heroyam slava!
I'm thinking of you and all Ukrainians during this time. Thank you for telling us your stories. It helps us remember our humanity, and helps me not to take my current comfortable life for granted.
Prescient, amazing report. It's encouraging that the light of intelligence is shining so brightly in spite of the horrific circumstances, especially with no clear end in sight. As our president Eisenhower of long ago stated , " It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog!" Glory to Ukraine!
Your writing takes me back to time spent with my grandmother, sitting together in the twilight (she would never turn in the electric light until all sunlight had faded) and hearing stories about Latvia before the war, and how beautiful it was. The Russians took my grandfather on New Year’s Eve, 1940. My grandmother escaped on the last train out in 1940. She too wished that “none of us would ever see such times”.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I am deeply affected by this war, mainly because I feel so unable to help those affected. Most of the free world is behind Ukraine, but I am frustrated with the slow response to provide arms to the Ukrainian forces. Thanks for including the links. They are very helpful.
I would respect Substack Reads more if it would post a story from the people in the Donbass region, who have been getting shelled for the past 8 years. Both sides need to be represented, not just another tear-jerker story to support the illegal government in Ukraine. And this doesn't show the side of the many Ukrainians in western Ukraine who have been murdered by the Zelensky government.
Makes me wonder if Substack isn't another "state-affiliated" medium, a la Twitter.
Nameless, why aren't you using your fiction-writing talents to write your OWN literary tales on Substack instead of leaving comments that do not address what I've written above?
Susan, I'm actually more shocked by your response to my question "why don't you come to Ukraine to talk to the people and write about your experiences on Substack?" --i.e., completely ignoring it to make a vague statement about "American people's thinking", than by your original comment. If I as an American person can write about my life and conversations with people in Ukraine, what's stopping you?
Massive income inequality in the United States? Poverty? Homelessness?
While the US uses "personal interest stories" like this one to get the American people to continue to support yet another war in an endless stream of wars, they are continuing another silent war on the home front. They can send billions to Ukraine with this kind of support, while we here at home need the help more than Zelensky.
Sitting far away, deep inside the western coast of the United States, I appreciate these posts because we have in-laws living in Kyiv. Yes, we are safe and comfortable, but there is an awkward form of PTSD that comes with constantly worrying about those in harm's way.
Please don't let the worrying take you away from the true challenge: letting what you sense move you to action. The harm that threatens your in-laws in Kyiv (and everyone in Ukraine) can be averted by stopping russia. This means providing Ukraine with the arms it needs to clear its territory of invading russian forces and protect its land and people from future attack. The US can do this if Americans have the courage to decisively support Ukraine to victory.
It is not a matter of courage with Americans. It is more a matter of "cost benefit analysis". Most folks understand it is beneficial to have Ukraine battle the Russian military instead of American troops doing so. Though it may sound like Americans focus only on money, the reality is a moral question. We are not protecting our own border, so the question becomes "Why protect someone else's?" That is too simplified, but the thought does get expressed in some dialogs.
I sense a one sided opinion here regarding “it was the Russian’s” who are responsible for the bombings and death of civilians to appease the NATO mainstream narrative.
The citizens and leadership of the Russian Federation are responsible for the bombings, missile strikes, and daily artillery fire the RF is committing on the territory of the sovereign nation of Ukraine and for killing Ukrainian civilians. In war there are only two sides. Which side are you on?
Loved your clear writing style, expressing emotions in such a way that is easily relatable. I grew up in israel- constantly under threat- don’t touch that handbag on the bench in the park, it could be a bomb, stay clear of crowded places, don’t trust people you don’t know, avoid buses that tend to be targets, seal off your apartment from bombing in the Gulf war….etc. Somehow I stayed un-hating, and able to see all sides of that conflict, though truth be told, after 23 years of it, I opted to go live abroad…
I enjoyed reading your story- please keep writing. That too can be helpful in your healing process… whenever that can begin - let’s hope sooner rather than later.
Thank you, Audrey! I'd be interested to read more about your experience living in Israel and decision to leave. Is that a topic of your writing on Substack?
Hi Larissa, thanks for your reply. I joined Substack to read… but I am a writer too. I live in the Netherlands and as a third culture kid, write about this and that… and life in general. I’m currently editing a novel about living not in your home country…
Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't know you and I will never meet you but today's technology makes it possible to know someone else's pain from far away. Only if we opt out of the fiat ponzi through which war is funded can we stop such suffering and move forward as a civilization. Stories like yours move me to continue on the path I'm walking. If they can't print the money to fund the war and shift the powers so the broken system we live in works for them there is no war. This is the time to transcend as a whole species and stop fighting each other due to a broken monetary system. And I believe change is here. The light has been lit. Bitcoin will unite us all. It might take a lifetime for this to manifest but the creation of a global communication layer (the internet) will bring us closer and closer together as a species. As we are all one and the same. Driven by the same motives, fears, feelings.
Be well, may your wounds heal, also your physical ones. And may you be healthy.
Thank you for your well wishes, Stefan! I believe in the power of individual human will and chance to influence the events we later recount as history. Systems can facilitate actions at large scale but wars are fought by people -- individual people and people together as political nations. Technology (the Internet, Substack) can make it easier for you to read somebody's story, but it's the individual art of the storyteller that makes it possible to feel another's pain.
It is my pleasure Larissa! I agree with you on that, you are a great story teller and I am glad I didn't have to live through such a tragedy yet. I remember the week when everything started like yesterday. At the time I was working a job on location in the Netherlands. My ukrainian ex girlfriend was and still is in the Ukraine. We visited both kijv and lviv in the past. I have mugs with lions on them in my kitchen cabinet. They are from the coffee makery in the city center of lviv and they are my absolute favourites to drink from. I remember writing with her when everything started. Her current partner had gone to defend the people and she was hiding in the cellar with her family. Hearing the shooting outside. I have never felt that angry and powerless before in my life. I was lying in my bed at my girlfriends place, crying, while she was sleeping next to me. I don't know how she is doing now but every now and then I see poetic posts on Instagram of her. Last time we talked her partner was back and alive with her. And I could make peace with it, knowing that she had people surrounding her who loved her. My sister hosted two Ukrainian girls who fled not long after, as she saw how I was emotionally suffering due to the situation. Now there is some people living in the big church next to my place. I found out about it just last week. I heard they all have jobs now. Perhaps I can go there sometime soon and offer my help or make some new friends. I'm new in the area too here. Either way. I got carried away a little. Thanks for sharing and take care. 🍀
Regarding PTSD: I've been guilty of broadly assuming that Ukraine as a whole will face some level of PTSD when this atrocity is over. Your opinion on the matter is humbling, however. Ukrainians have shown inconceivable strength and resolve in living and fighting through this immoral war. Inconceivable to this Westerner at least. This is not familiar territory for society in America. Our fight for independence is literally ancient history. Yes, we have our own tragedies over here and they cannot be overlooked but we've never been tested on a level that Ukraine is facing.
There's strength in your country's history. That strength seems to be deeply inherent in your culture. Maybe that's the difference in how Ukraine will deal with the aftermath. Maybe the physical rebuilding of the nation will help to heal the unseen wounds in your souls.
I do hope that the knowledge and resources are widely available for those whose trauma lingers after crossing the finish line to peace and freedom. It's the least that can be done for such courageous defenders of freedom and democracy.
Thank you for sharing your story. It means a lot.
Slava Ukrayini!!
Thank you, Justin, for you powerful and encouraging words! You write beautifully. I encourage you and all Americans to reach back to your (our, US) fight for independence as a source of power and strength to face the challenge that russia's invasion of Ukraine is throwing at the whole world. Your words and actions will shape the outcome of this war. Heroyam slava!
I'm thinking of you and all Ukrainians during this time. Thank you for telling us your stories. It helps us remember our humanity, and helps me not to take my current comfortable life for granted.
Prescient, amazing report. It's encouraging that the light of intelligence is shining so brightly in spite of the horrific circumstances, especially with no clear end in sight. As our president Eisenhower of long ago stated , " It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog!" Glory to Ukraine!
Thank you, John! May the fight be with you, too!
Your writing takes me back to time spent with my grandmother, sitting together in the twilight (she would never turn in the electric light until all sunlight had faded) and hearing stories about Latvia before the war, and how beautiful it was. The Russians took my grandfather on New Year’s Eve, 1940. My grandmother escaped on the last train out in 1940. She too wished that “none of us would ever see such times”.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I am deeply affected by this war, mainly because I feel so unable to help those affected. Most of the free world is behind Ukraine, but I am frustrated with the slow response to provide arms to the Ukrainian forces. Thanks for including the links. They are very helpful.
Wow. I know I’m on the other side of the wall but thank you for sharing your side 💕
I would respect Substack Reads more if it would post a story from the people in the Donbass region, who have been getting shelled for the past 8 years. Both sides need to be represented, not just another tear-jerker story to support the illegal government in Ukraine. And this doesn't show the side of the many Ukrainians in western Ukraine who have been murdered by the Zelensky government.
Makes me wonder if Substack isn't another "state-affiliated" medium, a la Twitter.
Susan, why don't you come to Ukraine to talk to the people and write about your experiences on Substack?
Just as a civilised and liberal society allows freedom of expression, so too are you allowed to believe whatever you like, despite the evidence.
Larissa's post is intelligent and well written and could equally apply to any part of any war zone.
I see nothing in Substack's Terms which discriminates against certain political beliefs and sorry Susan, I think you're down a Trumpian rabbit hole.
Kind regards,
Alan.
You illustrate my point perfectly; there are many rabbit holes.
But no point arguing with a Russian chat bot. Stay Nameless.
Nameless, why aren't you using your fiction-writing talents to write your OWN literary tales on Substack instead of leaving comments that do not address what I've written above?
You're welcome.
I couldn't help but see it as an example of how the American people's thinking is warped by this kind of propaganda.
Susan, I'm actually more shocked by your response to my question "why don't you come to Ukraine to talk to the people and write about your experiences on Substack?" --i.e., completely ignoring it to make a vague statement about "American people's thinking", than by your original comment. If I as an American person can write about my life and conversations with people in Ukraine, what's stopping you?
Massive income inequality in the United States? Poverty? Homelessness?
While the US uses "personal interest stories" like this one to get the American people to continue to support yet another war in an endless stream of wars, they are continuing another silent war on the home front. They can send billions to Ukraine with this kind of support, while we here at home need the help more than Zelensky.
Sitting far away, deep inside the western coast of the United States, I appreciate these posts because we have in-laws living in Kyiv. Yes, we are safe and comfortable, but there is an awkward form of PTSD that comes with constantly worrying about those in harm's way.
Please don't let the worrying take you away from the true challenge: letting what you sense move you to action. The harm that threatens your in-laws in Kyiv (and everyone in Ukraine) can be averted by stopping russia. This means providing Ukraine with the arms it needs to clear its territory of invading russian forces and protect its land and people from future attack. The US can do this if Americans have the courage to decisively support Ukraine to victory.
It is not a matter of courage with Americans. It is more a matter of "cost benefit analysis". Most folks understand it is beneficial to have Ukraine battle the Russian military instead of American troops doing so. Though it may sound like Americans focus only on money, the reality is a moral question. We are not protecting our own border, so the question becomes "Why protect someone else's?" That is too simplified, but the thought does get expressed in some dialogs.
Our thoughts are with you all over there in Ukraine. May the country muster the strength to overcome.
I sense a one sided opinion here regarding “it was the Russian’s” who are responsible for the bombings and death of civilians to appease the NATO mainstream narrative.
The citizens and leadership of the Russian Federation are responsible for the bombings, missile strikes, and daily artillery fire the RF is committing on the territory of the sovereign nation of Ukraine and for killing Ukrainian civilians. In war there are only two sides. Which side are you on?
Loved your clear writing style, expressing emotions in such a way that is easily relatable. I grew up in israel- constantly under threat- don’t touch that handbag on the bench in the park, it could be a bomb, stay clear of crowded places, don’t trust people you don’t know, avoid buses that tend to be targets, seal off your apartment from bombing in the Gulf war….etc. Somehow I stayed un-hating, and able to see all sides of that conflict, though truth be told, after 23 years of it, I opted to go live abroad…
I enjoyed reading your story- please keep writing. That too can be helpful in your healing process… whenever that can begin - let’s hope sooner rather than later.
Thank you, Audrey! I'd be interested to read more about your experience living in Israel and decision to leave. Is that a topic of your writing on Substack?
Larissa, You've encouraged me to start writing on Substack :). Published a poem which says a bit about me - You're welcome to read it :)
Hi Larissa, thanks for your reply. I joined Substack to read… but I am a writer too. I live in the Netherlands and as a third culture kid, write about this and that… and life in general. I’m currently editing a novel about living not in your home country…
I have a blog : SailingOnDryLand.blog
Perhaps I will use Substack to publish some of my work…
Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't know you and I will never meet you but today's technology makes it possible to know someone else's pain from far away. Only if we opt out of the fiat ponzi through which war is funded can we stop such suffering and move forward as a civilization. Stories like yours move me to continue on the path I'm walking. If they can't print the money to fund the war and shift the powers so the broken system we live in works for them there is no war. This is the time to transcend as a whole species and stop fighting each other due to a broken monetary system. And I believe change is here. The light has been lit. Bitcoin will unite us all. It might take a lifetime for this to manifest but the creation of a global communication layer (the internet) will bring us closer and closer together as a species. As we are all one and the same. Driven by the same motives, fears, feelings.
Be well, may your wounds heal, also your physical ones. And may you be healthy.
Thank you for your well wishes, Stefan! I believe in the power of individual human will and chance to influence the events we later recount as history. Systems can facilitate actions at large scale but wars are fought by people -- individual people and people together as political nations. Technology (the Internet, Substack) can make it easier for you to read somebody's story, but it's the individual art of the storyteller that makes it possible to feel another's pain.
It is my pleasure Larissa! I agree with you on that, you are a great story teller and I am glad I didn't have to live through such a tragedy yet. I remember the week when everything started like yesterday. At the time I was working a job on location in the Netherlands. My ukrainian ex girlfriend was and still is in the Ukraine. We visited both kijv and lviv in the past. I have mugs with lions on them in my kitchen cabinet. They are from the coffee makery in the city center of lviv and they are my absolute favourites to drink from. I remember writing with her when everything started. Her current partner had gone to defend the people and she was hiding in the cellar with her family. Hearing the shooting outside. I have never felt that angry and powerless before in my life. I was lying in my bed at my girlfriends place, crying, while she was sleeping next to me. I don't know how she is doing now but every now and then I see poetic posts on Instagram of her. Last time we talked her partner was back and alive with her. And I could make peace with it, knowing that she had people surrounding her who loved her. My sister hosted two Ukrainian girls who fled not long after, as she saw how I was emotionally suffering due to the situation. Now there is some people living in the big church next to my place. I found out about it just last week. I heard they all have jobs now. Perhaps I can go there sometime soon and offer my help or make some new friends. I'm new in the area too here. Either way. I got carried away a little. Thanks for sharing and take care. 🍀