The Tragedy of Salina: Before There Was a Bucha

Once again this land called Ukraine is awash in blood.

Once again, there is a conflict played out by larger powers while it is Ukrainians who suffer.

On one side there is NATO. Cynically you could say they’re only interested in kneecapping Putin’s Russia. And they’ll do it with the lives of these people. I don’t believe that. I believe the world has been stunned and fallen in love with the resilience and beautiful souls of the Ukrainian people.

Of course, once again, on the other side are the Russians. Once again, they are contesting the idea that Ukraine even has the right to exist as a country. And also they will commit ethnic cleansing to see that that doesn’t happen.

In the end it is a game of narratives and justifications for playing out this game on this soil.

Russia’s narrative that the Ukrainians are doing this to themselves reveals only their own lack of empathy and understanding of this nation. To say that they are puppets of the CIA and are being forced to decimate their own buildings, rape and kill their own people. It beggars belief.

But there is a difference this time. And it is this: this time there is a Ukraine to defend. And the story, the narrative. will be written by the Ukrainians themselves.

I am beyond privileged to be here. I will bear witness. And I will help them tell their own story. Which I only fear I am inadequate to do because it is a story so beautiful and profound that I am humbled nearly every day.

I am watching the birth of a nation. No longer will a Bucha happen. Nor a Salina.