Celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day

On 24th August 1991, the Ukrainian legislature passed the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, re-stating the nation’s right to self-determination.

That the declaration came a year after the same body had already secured sovereignty for Ukraine is a testament to how the death of Russian Imperialism is oft declared but yet to be realised.

It could be seen as a cruel irony to find Ukraine celebrating their independence in the midst of occupation and annexation, but the reality is that importance of re-stating Ukraine’s independent identity has never been more important than it is today. Putin’s whole case for war was built upon historical myths, his notion of a Greater Russia relies entirely upon extinguishing the ethnic identities and histories of peoples who have lived in the region since the days of Roman Emperors.

It is an imperialistic vision which not only threatens the immediate peace and security of Eastern Europe, but by weaponising Nationalism enables Putin is able to continue to oppress all those in Russian itself fighting for their own freedoms. The first victims of any tyrant are always their own people.

If twenty-two years of Putin has made anything clear, it is that no appeasement will ever be enough. He won’t stop seeking to expand the borders of his empire. He cannot, his stability at home depends upon it. The Ukrainians are paying the blood price for saving the rest of Europe from war. I can only hope that if we were tested as they are being, we would show a quarter of the bravery and resolve they are showing the whole world. They are holding back the tide and we all owe them for it.

Many Crawley households have come forward to offer their home to those needing sanctuary from this conflict and we should praise their willingness to play a part. The town’s Ukrainian population has grown substantially over recent months and no one should doubt their gratitude, they have been almost embarrassingly keen not to leave any sign of their presence we should be embracing them all. When people need sanctuary, any decent person would always do what they can do offer it, and to be clear that obligation isn’t limited to those from Ukraine.

The reality is that far from imposing upon us, having lost so many European citizens from the town over recent years, Crawley’s hospitality industry would have collapsed further without the support of the town’s newest residents. They have been a blessing to the town, even as the bigots try to pretend otherwise.

Today is a day of celebration, a statement of Ukrainian independence and the the kind of pride all people have a right to feel in their country. As a town which is now home to an increasingly large Ukrainian community, I would hope that all those reading this will do whatever they can to commemorate alongside our newest neighbours, solidarity is always meaningful.

I had planned on ending this by saying that we are all Ukrainians today, the truth is we don’t have the right to claim that status for ourselves. We who know peace cannot understand the pain these people, at home or abroad as refugees, are suffering. All we can do is make it clear that we will continue to stand with them, no matter the cost, no matter how long it takes. I firmly believe that Ukraine will win this fight, but I want to say right now, it is not nearly enough to help them to win, if freedom is to mean anything we must help them to rebuild again and regain the future that holding back Putin for us all has cost them. It really is the least we could do.