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It is now four days since Russia invaded and Ukraine’s two most important cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv, are still standing. How is this possible? By a heroic struggle, built on the spirit, patriotism, and courage of the Ukrainian resistance.
What the Ukrainians are achieving is already history. Led by their president, the very brave and heroic Zelensky, they have taught the world a lesson. Zelensky has done what no leader in the world has done for decades: I do not remember the last head of state who, in the darkest hours, has shown such firmness and courage.
President Zelensky could have fled long ago, with his family and a loot. But no. He has decided to stay in Kyiv, fighting, side by side with his soldiers. And he does so knowing that the world has left them alone. Faced with an offer from the U.S. to be evacuated, his response was: “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride.”
What a contrast to the cowardly tyrant Putin, who thinks he has the ability to do whatever he wants just because he sits on a nuclear arsenal. Coward. Directing from the Kremlin his soldiers, whom he sent to kill innocents.
Ten Ukrainian children have already been killed by Putin’s army. Several schools were bombed and dozens of women were also killed. That is what Russia has been able to do so far: shed innocent blood. On the other hand, Ukraine has been much more efficient and superior.
Russia’s losses are remarkable. More than four thousand soldiers. 27 airplanes, 2 ships, etcetera. It is impressive. Ukraine has dealt Russia accurate blows and has shown outstanding superiority on the battlefield. There is, for example, the so-called “Ghost of Kyiv”, which knocks down Russian aircraft like flies.
The world is already reacting more strongly. Europe finally decided to take Russia out of the SWIFT system, which will have a tremendous impact on the Kremlin’s finances. No Russian aircraft can fly over Europe anymore. Neither airlines nor the private jets of the oligarchs, as the European Union has stated.
We do not know what will happen. Putin does not have it easy. He is trying to take over a free country of more than 40 million inhabitants. And he is doing it with a rather fragile economy, smaller than that of the state of Texas. Sanctions hit hard, and domestic pressures begin, like the Russians who are already protesting across the country against the invasion.
Everyone knows how wars start, but no one knows how they will end. The world changed forever with this invasion, no doubt. But things have also changed for Putin, whose life is now noticeably more complicated.
Regardless of what happens, this episode has already transcended into the history books. Putin will remain a war criminal, a delusional tyrant who believed that in the 21st century a free country could be taken over without anything happening. Zelensky, on the other hand, will transcend as a brave and determined man, who showed a height of other times in the darkest moments of his country.
Long live Ukraine, but long live above all his heroic resistance.
Orlando Avendaño is the co-editor-in-chief of El American. He is a Venezuelan journalist and has studies in the History of Venezuela. He is the author of the book Days of submission // Orlando Avendaño es el co-editor en Jefe de El American. Es periodista venezolano y cuenta con estudios en Historia de Venezuela. Es autor del libro Días de sumisión.