Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine Crisis 12/9/13

Dear Levi,

I’m so scared. My parents messaged me today that the war sirens are on and the EuroMaidan faction is on the verge of splitting my country into civil war as of today. The past week since Yanukovych denied the treaty with the EU in favor of closer ties with Russia, protestors have taken to the streets in resemblance of the days of the Orange Revolution to voice their cry for freedom for the country. Over the weekend, things came to head. Yanukovych banned public assembly, a crime against our freedom of assembly and speech. A million EuroMaidan protestors thronged Independence Square in the Captiol. Across the country, similar crowds gathered in territorial capitol squares. The protestors took over the government hall in Kiev and overturned the black BMW vehicles of the government in Kharkov in front of the city hall. On Sunday, police began blockading Kiev and surrounded the protestors on Independence Square defying the presidential command to disburse. As a blizzard hit and temperatures plummeted, my people stood their ground face to face with their own brothers but an inch from civil war. Sunday night violence broke out as the army assembled and riot police began to attack the civilians on the streets. The bloodshed began when one unarmed protestor was dragged out of the crowd and kicked to death by police.

Monday morning, I received my parents’ message with trepidition. The banks had been closed. Martial law called, the army rolled out, public travel suspended. Citizens were to remain inside and off the streets or be subject to arrest for rebellion against the curfew. Phones across the country were suspended, news stations pulled off the air, and the internet shut down. Private videos from cellphones and personal cameras leaked news of the war between the army and the citizens in the Captiol. By the end of Monday, the president of the EU called for the resignation of the President Yanukovych and his senior staff and stated it was the duty of European nations to stand with the people of Ukraine against such acts of terror and violence from government crimes against the democratic constituion in place. US send envoys to the embassy, the Vice President Biden himself. War raged in the ice cold of night.

Tuesday morning, I awoke to hear the internet was back on. The government troops had raided the news stations that covered the EuroMaidan movement and confiscated their servers, computers, and equipment. Journalists were arrested without warrants. The armed militia locked up the news stations per the order for a suspsension of news coverage during the revolution, another crime against the freedoms of our constitution.

I am so scared.

I wish more than ever that I was home. I’d take to the streets so fast, like when I was fifteen. But I would hold a Ukrainian flag as well as the orange flag, and I would stand for the liberty to pursue life, to pursue freedom, to pursue choice. It is so excruciating for me to be here, to be all alone while Kendon is gone at work all night and I am alone at work all day.

I wanted to text you so badly. I wanted to call, leave a voicemail. Talk to Tim. Anything. But I knew you wouldn’t care, like that day I came to you in Walmart when I was so sick, and you didn’t care. You sent me away to my little brother who cares for me about as little as you. I hit rock bottom that day, and I know now I can never turn to you again. It kills me, when I remember what it felt like to hide in your arms and belive I could trust them, trust you.

But I can’t.

I’m all alone.

I wanted to activate my facebook and post the news reports from the Washington Post and Kyiv Post. I wanted to post on my blog. But I knew you wouldn’t check. I knew you wouldn’t care. The torment was so hard for me. I cried on my way to Panera Bread as I worked a double that night. Slapping sandwhiches together and trying to lead the crew of teenagers more in love with Miley Cyrus’ latest video and their Christmas break plans to care about some random girl and her far-off country.

I came home and prayed. So tired. I know God is in control. I know He is watching my family. I only want to be with them, to be there right now in the midst of this.

I hate being here.

There is no point.

Your star,

Rigel