The Will to Survive

Notes on Ukraine, as it defends its right to exist

(Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash)

“It was an attack of astonishing ingenuity—unprecedented, broad, and 18 months in the making.” So begins a report from the BBC. It continues,

On 1 June more than 100 Ukrainian drones struck air bases deep inside Russia, targeting nuclear-capable long-range bombers.

The scale of the operation dubbed “Spider Web” became clear almost as soon as it began, with explosions reported across several time zones all over Russia . . .

Do people have a right to defend themselves against murder? They do.

Here is a succinct statement from Yaroslav Trofimov, the chief foreign-affairs correspondent of the Wall Street Journal:

Russia refused Ukraine’s offer of total or air ceasefire. Trump refused Ukraine’s request for air defenses and declined to sanction Russia for murderous missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine took out the planes used for these missile attacks. Simple.

And here is the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky:

When asked by journalists whether yesterday’s operation might enrage the Russians, I responded that just a day earlier, Russia had launched a massive overnight attack on Ukraine, over 480 drones and missiles. They struck civilian infrastructure, residential buildings. There were casualties, people killed and injured.

This happens every single day. Sometimes there’s a short pause, and to be honest, we now call it a “pause” if there’s just no one killed that night. But even then, drones still fly, and people still get wounded.

(For that statement in its entirety, go here.)

The Ukrainians did not give Washington notice of their operation. Can you blame them, for not confiding in Donald Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, et al.? Many of us Americans find this painful. In any event, we have entered a new era, with shifting alliances, and a different America.

After learning about Operation Spider Web—after reading about it, pondering it—I was moved to express the following:

I don't know whether Ukraine will be able to survive. Whether the Ukrainians will be able to keep their independence, their country, their freedom. But their effort to do so has been one of the most valiant and admirable things I have ever seen. What an example they have set.

An example for all time: of patriotism, self-sacrifice, resilience.

Donald Mace Williams wrote a poem—a natural thing for him to do. He is a poet, a novelist, a translator, a scholar, a journalist—a writer of amazing versatility. To read an article about him, published in recent days, go here.

Mr. Williams sent me his poem, which responds to Operation Spider Web:

Trojan Boxes

These many tiny flying soldiers found their way
inside the immaterial gates in wooden boxes,
containers, no doubt filled with utilizable things,
harmless, desirable, not cause for investigation.
So thought the enemy in its gigantic smugness.
These Greeks were like mosquitoes more than soldiers, though.
After their flights came stings, came smoke, came devastation.
Tell us now, Russia, have you yet read Homer, read Virgil?

***

A report from the Associated Press makes for hard reading, but important reading: “Over 200 Ukrainian soldiers have died in Russian prisons. Autopsies reveal rampant abuse.”

***

If you did not want to read every detail about Viktoriia Roshchyna, I would not blame you. But I think we should be aware of her life and death. Consult this report from the Guardian. She was a Ukrainian journalist, brave as hell. She was captured by Russian forces and tortured to death.

***

“The UN Human Rights Office says 669 children have been killed and 1,833 injured between the start of the full-scale invasion and the end of 2024.” That is a bulletin from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

And here is a story from RFE/RL, titled “A Burned Boy’s Recovery and the ‘Unimaginable Suffering’ of Ukrainian Children.”

***

Maybe you saw, or heard about, an article by Bridget Brink. Here it is. I will paste the initial paragraphs (though I recommend the whole article):

I just came home to Michigan from three years in the toughest job of my life―serving as the American Ambassador to Ukraine―supporting our democratic ally against brutal, unprovoked aggression by Russia.

I have proudly served five presidents―Republicans and Democrats―to make sure the United States is the strongest, greatest country that the world has ever known.

I respect the president’s right and responsibility to determine U.S. foreign policy―with proper checks and balances by the U.S. Congress. It is the role of America’s Foreign Service to execute that policy. Unfortunately, the policy since the beginning of the Trump administration has been to put pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia.

As such, I could no longer in good faith carry out the administration’s policy and felt it was my duty to step down. After nearly three decades serving our country, I resigned as our ambassador to Ukraine.

***

Japan is not part of the West, geographically. But in another sense . . . This story is of interest: “Ukraine to Receive $3B Loan from Japan Backed by Frozen Russian Assets.”

***

Ukrainians of all types, all ages, are doing what they can. To read about their activities, their sacrifices—it has been moving. Here is a report from RFE/RL, published last week. It opens, “In Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region, life in villages near the Russian border has been pushed to the edge.” More:

Ongoing Russian strikes have shuttered local shops, pharmacies, and public transportation systems, leaving residents isolated and desperate. But one man is refusing to let these communities be forgotten.

Oleksandr, a volunteer bus driver, is part of a grassroots effort to reconnect these villages with the outside world. Braving threats from Russian drones, he drives into danger zones, providing what many call their only lifeline.

“There are still people living there,” Oleksandr says. “Someone’s got to help them.”

“Someone’s got to help them.” A statement as powerful as it is simple.