Between hope, resignation and concern. The Ukrainians followed with attention the speech of the Russian president on Monday February 21 concerning the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. Vladimir Putin announced that he recognized the independence of the pro-Russian breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, while ordering the armed forces to ensure “peacekeeping functions” in these two territories. As an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council condemned Russian actions overnight and a meeting of the leaders of the 27 European Union countries is scheduled for Tuesday in Brussels, residents of Ukrainian regions concerned are closely monitoring the development of the situation.
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So, Alexander watched Vladimir Putin’s speech on his cell phone. “Honestly, it makes me smile a little”, puts this 55-year-old man who lives in Kharkiv, at the gates of Donbass, into perspective. He takes the words of the head of the Kremlin with great hindsight. “VSThis statement comes from a mentally deranged person.” Former blue helmet, Alexander obviously has a particular point of view on the situation.
“To have seen the Russians go to war in the 1990s, it was not like that.”
Alexander, 55-year-old resident of Kharkivat franceinfo
For this inhabitant of kharkiv, “it looks more like a game [entre américains et Russes]. Alexander is not the only one to react this way. There is no protests or strong reactions in the Kharkiv region because the Ukrainians have been at war for eight years against pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. These two territories, now recognized by the Russians, were therefore already inaccessible from Ukraine.
However, some are still preparing with concern for the possibility of an invasion of the country. This is the case of Nicolas, 22 years old. “Celit’s been going on for several years and Putin is just heading towards his target. He won’t let go until he makes Kharkiv and Kiev Russian cities.”he says, saying he fears the worst. “For me, there are two options now: mine and that of my family”says the student. “Mine is to go to the west of the country and commit myself to defend my country. My family’s is to emigrate to Europe, to a safe place.”
With the potential for an invasion of Ukraine, the specter of the return of the darkest hours of the war is therefore in everyone’s mind. “I’m afraid for my parents but we don’t know yet what will happen”, testifies Alina, who lives in Slaviansk, a hundred kilometers from the Donbass combat zones. In 2014, when the war between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists started, she was a teenager living in an apartment building in the small frontline town of Avdiivka. His parents stayed there.
“I fear that the situation will return to the same as in 2014, when the bombardments affected almost all the buildings. The only thing we want is for it to end.”
Alina, resident of Slaviansk (Ukraine)at franceinfo
Valentina is the same age as Alina’s parents. She was in Slaviansk in April 2014, when the Russian flag flew over official buildings after the separatist offensive. The city was recaptured three months later by the Ukrainian army. “This is Ukraine and we want it to stay that way”, pleads this manager of a restaurant in the heart of the city, in which we speak Russian and we listen to the latest hits produced in Moscow. She thinks that the Ukrainian army is now better organized and equipped to face Russia. “We hope everything is back to normal.” And at the same time sweeps away the hypothesis of a frank resumption of war in the region. “I do not think so [que la guerre peut reprendre]. I am sure that Ukraine will not abandon us.”
If the situation is tense in the far east of Ukraine, the rest of the country – larger than France – is not directly affected by the Russian threat for the moment. The daily life of Ukrainians is not disrupted by the recognition of the territories of Donetsk and Lugansk, except for those who grew up and have family in these regions. “It’s very painful when you love your city like me”says Anastia.
This 24-year-old woman left Donetsk eight years ago, at the start of the conflict. “We have just lost two territories where I lived. During all these years, we hoped that the conflict could be resolved peacefully and that Ukraine could keep its integrity. There, we are really afraid that Putin will go further. We don’t know not how the situation will evolve, but we have no choice. We continue to live and hope.” We could even translate these last words by hope, more than hope: that is to say what the future of the Ukrainians now depends on, who continue for the moment to live as if nothing had happened with, in a corner of their heads, the idea that the worst can always happen.