Three years of sacrifice and courage

Reflections on the meaning of three years of war in a much longer Ukrainian struggle against Russia.

Image: Cutlures of History Forum

We must all remember – Ukraine stands strong because of the heroic efforts of our soldiers and everyone supporting the front. Thank you! Ukrainians are a very strong people, and we have proven this. President Zelenskyy, 24 February 2025

Three years ago today, the military forces of Russia launched an attack across Ukraine’s borders on the ground and from the air. As Russian troops drove down roads in the hope of a short war and a victory parade in Kyiv, they received a mighty surprise.

The response from the people of Ukraine, to unite and fight whether they were soldier or civilian, inspired us all. In the Battle of Kyiv and many other battles on the ground, at sea, in the air and in the hearts of minds of people around the world since, the innovation, resilience, courage and essential goodness of the Ukrainian people has stood out.

The rallying cry of their president, who demanded ammunition and not a ride, was a decisive and historic moment. He not only rallied his own people but showed us all what physical and moral courage from national leaders can and should look like in the 21st century. We need more of this urgently.

Today, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers man the front line in trenches, air defence units, maritime warfare units, fighter aircraft, cyber units and behind enemy lines and deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian emergency service workers respond to Russian terror attacks, saving countless lives even while being attacked by follow-up Russian missiles designed to kill them.

Teachers, power plant workers, police, politicians at all levels, government workers, and defence manufacturing plant workers toil on, knowing that as grim as the situation may be, living under the heel of Russia is much, much worse. The fate of Ukrainians in occupied Ukraine shows the true, colonial face of Russia and its unceasing efforts to eradicate all trace of Ukrainian culture.

This is why the ‘bad peace’ that appears to be forming under the Trump-Putin alliance is so repulsive and unjust to Ukraine - and to all people of good heart. Ukraine must have agency in setting war termination goals, and Russia must pay for its unnecessary and brutal campaign to rape, loot, kidnap, murder, torture and destroy its way through Ukraine. Anything less than a just peace means that while fighting may pause, the war will not be over.

Today we remember the sacrifices of so many soldiers and civilians in the defence of Ukraine. We recognise and hopefully provide some small measure of comfort to the hundreds of thousands of families who have lost loved ones and whose suffering will endure well beyond this war. We celebrate the remarkable lives of the heroes of Ukraine, too many of whom had their promising futures robbed by Russian brutality.

But we must also recognise the support of many nations who have not shied away from supporting a friend in need. Poland and the Baltic nations stand out here. Countries who know what it is to live under Russian repression, they have provided enormous amounts of military, economic, diplomatic and moral support to Ukraine. The UK has demonstrated leadership and commitment and was among the first to provide support to Ukraine in the dark, early days of the war three years ago. The United States, at least until recently, has been a resolute supporter of Ukraine. Many other nations including my own have heeded the call to assist Ukraine and its people.

Soldiers of Ukraine’s 21st Brigade. Source: @DefenceU and 21st Mech Brigade

But it is Ukraine and Ukrainians who have fought this war. They have fought to preserve their lands and their history from a rapacious and vicious old man bent on achieving the fantasy of Russian empire. But they have also served as the frontline of resistance against 21st century authoritarianism, a task that we must all be eternally grateful to Ukraine for undertaking.

In this way, Ukraine has bought time for western countries to rethink their national security and their domestic resilience. Ukraine has provided us insights into the physical, intellectual and moral aspects of war - some new and some old - that will be essential to western nations preserving their sovereignty, prosperity and values in an era when authoritarian regimes are on the march.

Unfortunately, too many nations have been slow to respond to this threat. We dishonour the sacrifices of Ukraine if we believe the same old ideas, policies and allocation of national resources will see us through the turbulent years ahead.

Through three years of agony, which is just the latest Russian effort in their history of trying to exterminate Ukraine as a sovereign people and culture, we have born witness to what Churchill called the ‘lions heart’. A nation where uncommon courage is a common virtue, Ukraine has earned our admiration and they deserve our continuing (and increasing) support.

To all Ukrainians, I say thank you.

Through grim, cold and dark winters and dusty, hot summers, through the sacrifice and pain of war, you have played, and continue to play, a brave and historic role in opposing tyranny.

Do we in the west now have the courage to do the same?