"Speculation on the tragedy of the country": why Kiev is going to establish a day of memory of those killed in the "Russian-Ukrainian war"

The Ministry of Veterans of Ukraine proposed to establish the Day of Remembrance for the dead "defenders - participants of the Russian-Ukrainian war." About this initiative is reported on the site office. We are talking about the security forces who died during the so-called ATO ("anti-terrorist operation", in 2018, was renamed by the Ukrainian authorities in the Operation of the combined forces. - RT ). The ministry will determine the specific date for honoring the dead after questioning their family members.

Authorities and journalists in Ukraine often use the concept of "Russian-Ukrainian war." This term refers to both the events of 2014–2016 in the Donbass and the episodes of the Civil War in the territory of the former Russian Empire. This phrase can be found in the materials published on the website of the Ukrainian Ministry of Veterans Affairs.

Recall, back in 2015, material about the “war with Russia” was added to the Ukrainian school history books. In 2017, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory reported on the preparation of the book Oral History of the Russian-Ukrainian War (2014–2016).

According to experts, the new memorable date is intended to remind the public of the danger that supposedly emanates from Russia.

“This initiative is due to the anti-Russian course of the Ukrainian authorities,” said Mikhail Pogrebinsky, director of the Kiev Center for Political Studies and Conflictology, in an interview with RT. “It comes either from ideological supporters of the course“ away from Moscow ”, or from those who use such rhetoric to score more political points.”

According to the political scientist, it is also quite possible that behind the idea of ​​the Ministry of Veterans Affairs there may be “purely opportunistic considerations” - to curry favor with the higher leaders.

• Ukrainian servicemen
• © General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

"Revolutionary" calendar

If the authorities support the initiative of the department, then the Day of Remembrance of the “defenders - participants of the Russian-Ukrainian war” will be another date set after the coup d'état in Kiev in February 2014.

Most of the holidays and memorial days in post-Ukraine Ukraine are associated with the “revolution of dignity” and the conflict in the Donbas. On January 20, Ukraine is celebrating Memorial Day for the Defenders of Donetsk Airport (or Cyborg Memorial Day). February 20 in the cities of the country are mourning events dedicated to the so-called heroes of the “heavenly hundreds” - activists who were shot in the center of Kiev on February 20–22, 2014.

March 14, Ukraine celebrates Volunteer Day, June 13 - Day of the liberation of Mariupol from "pro-Russian terrorists", July 5 - Day of liberation from the "militants" of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. In 2014, Kiev refused to celebrate February 23 and declared Defender of Ukraine Day October 14 - the date of the creation of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) *.

According to a survey conducted in September – October 2018 by the Rating sociological group, 51% of Ukrainians opposed canceling the celebration of Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23. However, this position of the population did not prevent Petro Poroshenko from stating that the Ukrainians had already “forgotten” about this holiday date.

In March 2019, Vladimir Vyatrovich, Director of the Institute of National Remembrance of Ukraine, in an interview with the Facts publication, shared his plans to cancel the day off on May 9 At the moment, his initiative has not found the support of the authorities.

Since 2016, due to the process of de-communization, the format of the celebration of victory over Nazi Germany has changed a lot. The authorities of Ukraine do not welcome the use of St. George ribbons, the performance of songs of the Soviet years, as well as the attributes of the Red Army, including the Victory Banner.

The official symbol of the holiday is the red poppy, which in the West is a symbol of the memory of those who fell in the First World War. Victory over Nazism in Europe is celebrated on May 8, but on this day Ukraine celebrates the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation.

According to last year’s study of the Kiev International Institute of Sociology, 31% of Ukrainians consider Victory Day to be their favorite holiday. At the same time, the popularity of memorable dates established after 1991 and 2014 is low. In particular, the Independence Day of Ukraine is celebrated by 16% of citizens, the Defender of Ukraine Day - 11%, Constitution Day - 5%.

• Rally in support of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade that participated in the ATO
• © General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

"Enhance anti-Russian propaganda"

Sources of RT in the Verkhovna Rada believe that in Ukrainian society there is no request for the establishment of a new memorable date associated with the ATO. According to them, on the eve of the presidential elections to be held on March 31, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is trying to exploit the "anti-Russian theme." The initiative to commemorate the Day of the Fallen "Defenders - Participants of the Russian-Ukrainian War" fits into the fabric of Poroshenko's campaign.

“Now it is much more appropriate to talk about the cessation of hostilities in the east of the country. Ukrainians want this, and not new holidays or commemoration dates. But while the world in the Donbass and does not smell. Instead of sitting at the negotiating table, the authorities are intensifying anti-Russian propaganda. All ties with Russia should be broken as soon as possible - this is the goal of all such initiatives, ”said a source in the Batkivshchyna party.

Meanwhile, the RT interlocutor in the Popular Front party also links the initiative to establish the Day of Remembrance for the “defenders - participants of the Russian-Ukrainian war” with the upcoming first round of presidential elections. According to him, “this is Poroshenko’s attempt to attract the ATO fighters and their families to their side.”

“The fight goes for every vote, so such initiatives appear. The authorities think that they kill two birds with one stone at a time - they remember the participants of the ATO and remind them of “the enemy”. But what will these officials do in a few years if they have to sit at the negotiating table with Russia? What will they say to the participants of the ATO? ”The deputy of the Popular Front noted.

In a conversation with RT, a source in the Self-Help Party drew attention to the duplicity of power. Speaking with statements about the “war with Russia”, official Kiev does not sever diplomatic relations and trade and economic ties with Moscow.

“The possible establishment of the Day of Remembrance for the“ defenders - participants of the Russian-Ukrainian war ”is a typical pre-election demagogy and speculation on the tragedy of the country. No one will celebrate such a day. Moreover, there is still no evidence of Russia's participation in the conflict in the Donbas. If this day appears, it will become another date that people will not even notice, ”the deputy of“ Self-help ”believes.

• President of Ukraine speaks to servicemen
• © General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

In a conversation with RT, Rostislav Ischenko, President of the Ukrainian Center for System Analysis and Forecasting, said that the initiative of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs was the result of Kiev’s reluctance to recognize the obvious fact of a civil war in Donbass. Together, this post-mayor authorities seek to emphasize the ethnic and interstate nature of the confrontation.

“Of course, every state calls war the way it wants. But the example of this initiative can be traced clear aspiration to hide the fact of conflict between the citizens of Ukraine and shift the burden of responsibility on the neighbor. In Ukrainian society there is no request for the next date to commemorate the dead security officials, but there is a request for national reconciliation, ”the expert noted.

Ishchenko is sure that the establishment of the Memorial Day for the fallen "defenders - participants of the Russian-Ukrainian war" will only aggravate the split in Ukraine. In his opinion, the consequences of a civil war cannot be overcome by exalting one of the parties to the conflict.

“The Bacchanalia that is happening on holidays is an attempt to impose values ​​alien to the Ukrainians through inept and clumsy propaganda. The authorities of Ukraine are inciting hatred towards Russia and towards Russians, realizing that they are not able to satisfy the public demand for a normal, peaceful life. In the continuation of the confrontation with Moscow, Kiev sees a pledge of its survival, ”Ischenko summed up.

* “Ukrainian Insurgent Army” (UPA) is a Ukrainian organization recognized as extremist and banned in Russia (decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated November 17, 2014).