An Open Letter to the World

From a Historian and Author Turned Soldier in the Ukrainian Army

Today I was told that people are tired of war and moving on to other things; that I would have to find others ways to get their attention. I had to sit with that for a while.

No one likes war. No one wants to be reminded that there are despicable leaders committing horrific crimes - killing children, bombing hospitals, raping women, and trying to annihilate an entire country - because they’re so deluded and drunk on power that they’ve lost their humanity. No, it is not a pleasant topic.

On the other hand, those who think they can look away and do nothing about the situation are fooling themselves. What’s happening in Ukraine is happening to us all. It is a symptom of a festering wound in the entire human psyche. It can either be addressed today in Ukraine - and every other place where leaders care more about personal power and money than human life - or it will rear its ugly head again in the near future, stronger and deadlier than ever.

So I am doing two things:

• I am posting this open letter from a Ukrainian history professor and author, Nazar Rozlutsky who is fighting in the Ukrainian army. It is a sobering look at what is happening on the ground there. Please read, pass it along, and if you feel moved to do so write Nazar a note on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nazar.rozlutsky.1

• Second, I am pouring my heart and energy into “Songs 4 Ukraine” because I have to believe that the love, hope, and strength we are generating through it can help. If we focus solely on pain and suffering, we too will lose our way. If you would like to know about “Songs 4 Ukraine,” including our new program for children called Song Flight, please visit: https://www.braidedlives.com/songs-for-ukraine

  For information about how to actively support the “Songs 4 Ukraine” project, visit: https://www.patreon.com/Songs4Ukraine?fan_landing=true

STAND WITH UKRAINE - An Open Letter to the World from Nazar Rozlutsky

I am not a military man. I never wanted to be in the military. I am a researcher who has a Ph.D. in history. I work at a museum. I am also a writer of sorts. I am supposed to be researching history, writing scientific papers, and fiction. fiction because I like it and I am good at it.

But lately, I've been in the military. Because there is a war in my country. Every day we engage in artillery duels, in which one successful strike by an enemy will turn us into mincemeat. We sleep in unbelievably narrow cargo beds on top of boxes and take warm showers once a month. When it's raining, we're wet. When we're in a swamp, we're as dirty as hell. And still, we take a shower only once a month), and there is no guarantee that we will have such an opportunity the next month.

When it was cold, the fingers of my brothers in arms freeze off. We eat only when we have a minute to spare, not when it's time to eat or when we have an appetite. We sleep so irregularly that I don't know if I will ever be able to return to my standard schedule from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. At the same time, we are a priority target for the enemy. They can try to wipe us out in different ways, at any moment.

Thousands of historians, writers, accountants, bankers, IT specialists, teachers, designers, and representatives of other completely peaceful professions in Ukraine have found themselves in these conditions. Some are in even more drastic ones. They are being killed with 152 mm artillery and Tochka-U missile launchers. Bullets, VOGs, clusters, and phosphorus ammunition flies at them. Some of them have already died and some will never return to their profession because they and have burned out.

But they all continue to fight because Ukraine is behind them. Because if they lay down their arms, their parents will be killed, their wives and daughters will be raped, and their homes will be destroyed or confiscated.

And when politicians from France, Italy, Germany, and other countries urge us to lay down our arms, agree to lose territories, and provide Russia with some security guarantees,I feel anger and deep disgust. I think, "What an absurdity!!! Russia does not need any security guarantees. It’s Russia’s neighbors who need guarantees against the threat from Russia."

I loathe these worthless people who, because of their prejudices or because of Putin's dirty money, are ready to condemn my country to occupation - to a slow and painful death. I feel disgust and anger at those who have great opportunities to help overcome the crisis but instead seek, consciously or unconsciously, to deepen it.

Because even the complete capitulation of Ukraine will not solve the problem of global security. On the contrary, it will embolden Russia to attempt new conquests.

We do not need offers to surrender. If you are not ready to fight with us against a rabid enemy, then help us with weapons, money, and sanctions. We need a lot to defeat Russia and thus drastically reduce the global crisis. But we have the main thing - motivation.

We have historians who are ready to sleep on top of boxes, five people in two sleeping places, and slog through mud for weeks without being able to shower. We have accountants who are ready to eat only porridge stew for months. We have young students who are spending their best years risking their lives.

And they will not give up - will not surrender or concede or make concessions unless they are all killed.

Ukraine will continue to fight for as long as she can.

And what will you do?

Sincerely, Nazar Rozlutsky, PhD Author of six books and currently a junior sergeant in the Armes Forces of Ukraine

Copyright 2022 by Jena Ball. All Rights Reserved.