Propaganda lines the streets of Russia as the government preaches their superiorityare the chosen, destined to win over Ukraine and reclaim the shattered land of the Soviets. For decades, Russia has exerted its power through conquest. From the 10 year war with Chechnya (1999-2009) ending with the country’s failed recession to the current 16 month war with Ukraine, Russia has long since built a reputation of force. But underneath its foundation of strength, cracks are beginning to show. [
For years, Putin has sunk his roots in Russia by exploiting Russian nationalism in order to clear his path of thorns Opposition to his rule was torn apart with accusations of disloyalty. During the war with Chechnya, Russian nationalism was rampant, further consolidating his power. Under him, the nation was reformed with him at the top and those at his side a mere illusion of representation. After a visit to the Russian capital Moscow, a Western ambassador stated that though the government was admittedly quite stable, it would not be a surprise if that stability gave out within a moment’s notice.
“If I woke up one morning and saw tanks on the streets, I would not be totally astonished,” he said.
With Russia’s path of conquest, destruction trails after. Cities between the countries have been pillaged and razed to the ground, monuments flattened, and families torn apart. One of those fallen victims to the war is Ukrainian Boris Batsev, a husband and father of two—leaving behind a family that will never see him again. His grave has been made elaborate by strangers bearing flowers and decorations, but he will not be coming back. And yet one death seems insignificant in the midst of thousands, a tidal wave of names and faces that too shall never return. War has reduced those lives to numbers. It has cut away from the potential of the thousands thrown into battle in a debt that cannot be repaid.
For over a year Russia and Ukraine have fought. This incident has reached every crevice of the world, pushing countries to scramble to pick a side. Russia has long stood as one of the countries at the top of the world’s hierarchy, but Ukraine remains unfaltering [This use of ‘unfaltering’ is awkward – perhaps, “Ukraine refuses to falter.”] In the plight of Russia’s irredentism, it becomes exceedingly difficult to determine who will remain standing when the smoke clears.
For years, Putin has sunk his roots in Russia by exploiting Russian nationalism in order to clear his path of thorns Opposition to his rule was torn apart with accusations of disloyalty. During the war with Chechnya, Russian nationalism was rampant, further consolidating his power. Under him, the nation was reformed with him at the top and those at his side a mere illusion of representation. After a visit to the Russian capital Moscow, a Western ambassador stated that though the government was admittedly quite stable, it would not be a surprise if that stability gave out within a moment’s notice.
“If I woke up one morning and saw tanks on the streets, I would not be totally astonished,” he said.
With Russia’s path of conquest, destruction trails after. Cities between the countries have been pillaged and razed to the ground, monuments flattened, and families torn apart. One of those fallen victims to the war is Ukrainian Boris Batsev, a husband and father of two—leaving behind a family that will never see him again. His grave has been made elaborate by strangers bearing flowers and decorations, but he will not be coming back. And yet one death seems insignificant in the midst of thousands, a tidal wave of names and faces that too shall never return. War has reduced those lives to numbers. It has cut away from the potential of the thousands thrown into battle in a debt that cannot be repaid.
For over a year Russia and Ukraine have fought. This incident has reached every crevice of the world, pushing countries to scramble to pick a side. Russia has long stood as one of the countries at the top of the world’s hierarchy, but Ukraine remains unfaltering [This use of ‘unfaltering’ is awkward – perhaps, “Ukraine refuses to falter.”] In the plight of Russia’s irredentism, it becomes exceedingly difficult to determine who will remain standing when the smoke clears.
