Celebrities to Ukraine: A message of support.
Short History lesson about Russia: 1939 – Russia (USSR) signs pact with Hitler, invades Poland, even parades with Nazis. 1939–40 – invades Finland. 1940 – annexes Baltics and part of Moldova, Katyn massacre (April–May 1940, ~22,000 Poles executed). 1953 – crushes East German uprising. 1956 – crushes Hungary. 1968 – crushes Czechoslovakia. 1979–89 – invades Afghanistan. 1990s–2000s – breaks peace agreements with Chechnya, flattens cities, kills more than 100,000 civilians. 2008 – invades Georgia. 2014 – grabs Crimea, starts war in Donbas, lies about shooting down MH17 plane. 2022 – full invasion of Ukraine, Bucha massacre, endless broken promises. Russia's pattern for 80+ years: lies, betrayals, invasions, and war crimes.
Many so called journalists and politicians say Ukraine should have bowed to Russia's demands in Turkey in 2022 to save the people, just as Finland bowed after the Soviet invasion in 1939–40 or France after the German invasion in 1940. But history proves that is a deadly illusion.
The "lesson of Finland and France" is twisted beyond recognition. Let's discuss the history.
Finland had a non-aggression pact with the USSR, but Moscow tore it up in 1939 and invaded. After heroic resistance, Finland was forced to cede Karelia, losing 10% of its territory and displacing 400,000 people. And Russia still came back in 1941 for more. That was not clever diplomacy — it was betrayal and survival under the gun.
France in 1940 did not "choose surrender." The French army fought hard, but after being outflanked they had to abandon Paris — just as the USSR abandoned Kyiv, Smolensk, and even Moscow's outskirts in 1941. Retreat is not surrender. What followed was four years of Nazi occupation, deportations, and executions — no French historian calls that "saving the country."
Ukraine has had Russia's so-called "friendship" for more than a century. In 1917, Ukraine declared independence as the Ukrainian People's Republic, formed a government with its own president, and even signed a peace treaty with the Bolsheviks — who invaded anyway and tried to crush the new state. In 1994, Ukraine gave up the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for border guarantees — Russia shredded it in 2014 and again in 2022. Even the 1997 Friendship Treaty was violated with the seizure of Crimea and war in Donbas.
Chechnya signed a peace deal in the 1990s after Russia lost the First Chechen War. Instead of respecting that agreement, Moscow came back, broke the deal, flattened Grozny, and killed over 100,000 people. That is Russia’s pattern: when it loses, it signs “peace,” and when it regains strength, it tears the treaty apart and starts killing again.
Poland signed a non-aggression pact with Russia in 1932, renewed it in 1934, then was invaded by Russia in 1939 — together with Hitler.
The Baltics — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania — signed treaties with Russia in the 1920s recognizing their independence. The USSR broke them in 1940, invaded, and annexed all three.
Moldova? Stalin seized Bessarabia from Romania in 1940, and modern Russia still backs separatism in Transnistria, keeping troops there in violation of agreements.
Georgia? Russia signed peace agreement with Georgia after the Soviet collapse and agreed to withdraw its forces, yet in 2008 it invaded, carved up Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and still keeps troops there to this day in open violation of those agreements.
The pattern is obvious: Finland, France, Poland, Ukraine (1917, 1994, 1997), Chechnya, the Baltics, Moldova, Georgia — every "agreement" with Russia ends the same way: betrayal, invasion, occupation, and mass graves.
Russia's word is worthless. Its "peace" is a trap. Surrender to Moscow never saves a country — it only guarantees the next war, the next massacre, and slavery.
Many people say the Russian people do not support the war. That is a lie. Poll after poll inside Russia shows majority backing for the invasion of Ukraine. Crowds cheer on state TV, rallies wave the Z symbol — a twisted half-swastika that mirrors Nazi Germany's banners — and soldiers are celebrated as "heroes" for bombing cities. If there was no support, Putin could not send hundreds of thousands of men to the front without mass uprisings. The truth is, Russian society accepts and even justifies aggression. Blaming only Putin is an excuse.
Many also say Russia has a "great culture". Yes, but look closer. Most of Russia's and Ukraine's greatest voices were silenced, deported, exiled, or even killed by Russian Empire/Soviet Union/Russia.
- Taras Shevchenko — Ukrainian poet and painter. Arrested for promoting Ukrainian identity, exiled to military service in remote Central Asia, forbidden to write or paint (1847–1857).
- Fyodor Dostoevsky — Russian novelist. Arrested, subjected to a staged mock execution, then sentenced to hard labor in Siberia (1849).
- Nikolai Gogol — Ukrainian-born writer. Harassed by tsarist censors, lived in fear of repression, some of his manuscripts destroyed (mid-1800s).
- Lev Tolstoy — Russian writer. Excommunicated by the Orthodox Church in 1901, censored for his radical religious and social views, his followers persecuted, died under police surveillance (1910).
- Pyotr Tchaikovsky — Russian composer. Lived under censorship and police surveillance due to his personal life and Western ties (late 1800s).
- Lesya Ukrainka — Ukrainian poet and playwright. Writings censored for national themes, harassed by imperial authorities (late 1800s–early 1900s).
- Nikolai Gumilev — Russian poet. Co-founder of the Acmeist movement, arrested and executed by the Bolsheviks (1921).
- Mykola Khvylovy — Ukrainian writer. Harassed by Soviet authorities, committed suicide in 1933 as NKVD persecution escalated.
- Mikhail Bulgakov — Russian writer. Plays and novels censored, harassed by the secret police, survived only due to Stalin's personal intervention, died young under censorship (1930s–1940).
- Osip Mandelstam — Russian poet. Arrested for an anti-Stalin poem, sent to the Gulag, died in a transit camp (1938).
- Isaac Babel — Jewish-Ukrainian writer. Arrested during Stalin's purges, tortured, and executed (1940).
- Vsevolod Meyerhold — Russian theater director. Arrested, tortured, and executed (1940).
- Maxim Gorky — Russian writer. Lived under surveillance, associates persecuted, likely poisoned during Stalin's purges (1936).
- Marina Tsvetaeva — Russian poet. Harassed, blacklisted, driven to suicide (1941).
- Anna Akhmatova — Ukrainian-born poet (Odesa). Banned from publishing, her son repeatedly imprisoned, subject to constant surveillance (1940s–1960s).
- Sergei Rachmaninoff — Russian composer and pianist. Forced to emigrate after the Revolution, settled in the United States (emigrated 1917, died 1943).
- Igor Stravinsky — Russian composer. Left Russia after the Revolution, works banned in the USSR for decades (emigrated 1914, died 1971).
- Igor Sikorsky — Ukrainian aviation pioneer (Kyiv). Forced to emigrate and built his helicopters in America (emigrated 1919, died 1972).
- Volodymyr Vernadsky — Ukrainian scientist, philosopher, founder of biogeochemistry. Suppressed by Soviet authorities, his works censored, forced to retreat from public life (1930s–1940s).
- Lev Landau — Russian physicist, Nobel Prize in Physics (1962). Arrested in 1938, beaten, and imprisoned until international scientists petitioned for his release.
- Sergei Korolev — Ukrainian rocket engineer, chief of the Soviet space program (Zhytomyr). Arrested and sent to the Gulag, jaw broken in prison, injury contributed to his early death despite leading the space race (arrested 1938, died 1966).
- Dmitri Shostakovich — Russian composer. Constantly threatened with arrest or execution, his works censored whenever they displeased Stalin (1930s–1970s).
- Boris Pasternak — Russian writer, Nobel Prize in Literature (1958). Forced to decline his award under direct threats, his masterpiece Doctor Zhivago banned (1958).
- Mykhailo Hrushevsky — Ukrainian historian and politician. Founder of modern Ukrainian historiography, harassed by Soviet authorities, died under suspicious circumstances (1934).
- Vasyl Stus — Ukrainian poet and dissident. Arrested for his writings, sentenced to labor camps, died in prison (1985).
- Andrei Sakharov — Russian physicist, Nobel Peace Prize (1975). Stripped of privileges, sent into internal exile in Gorky for criticizing Soviet repression (exiled 1980).
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — Russian writer, Nobel Prize in Literature (1970). Imprisoned, persecuted, stripped of citizenship, and expelled from the USSR (expelled 1974).
- Mstislav Rostropovich — Russian cellist and conductor. Stripped of Soviet citizenship in 1978 for supporting dissidents, including Solzhenitsyn.
- Galina Vishnevskaya — Russian opera singer. Stripped of Soviet citizenship alongside her husband Rostropovich (1978).
- Andrei Tarkovsky — Russian film director. Harassed and censored, forced into exile in the 1980s.
- Sergei Parajanov — Armenian-Ukrainian film director (born in Tbilisi, worked in Kyiv). Imprisoned for his art and accused of fabricated crimes (1970s–1980s).
- Joseph Brodsky — Russian poet, Nobel Prize in Literature (1987). Arrested for "parasitism," harassed, and eventually exiled (1964 trial, expelled 1972).
- Vladimir Vysotsky — Russian poet, songwriter, and actor. Harassed and censored, his concerts banned, denied official recognition, under KGB scrutiny until his early death (1980).
The list is endless: some silenced, some deported, some driven into exile, and many killed or broken. Russia's state has always destroyed the brightest minds. Culture and science survived not because of Russia, but in spite of it. Do you think it is in the past? It continues today, under Putin's rule, with critics, journalists, scientists, and activists still paying with their lives.
List of people killed or persecuted in modern Russia, most likely under direct Putin's order:
- Sergei Yushenkov — Russian opposition politician, shot dead (2003).
- Anna Politkovskaya — Russian journalist, assassinated in Moscow (2006).
- Alexander Litvinenko — Russian ex-FSB officer, poisoned with polonium in London (2006).
- Farid Babayev — Russian opposition candidate, shot (2007).
- Stanislav Markelov — Russian human rights lawyer, shot (2009).
- Anastasia Baburova — Russian journalist, shot with Markelov (2009).
- Sergei Magnitsky — Russian lawyer/whistleblower, died in custody (2009).
- Natalya Estemirova — Russian human rights activist, abducted and murdered (2009).
- Boris Nemtsov — Russian opposition leader, shot near Kremlin (2015).
- Nikolay Andrushchenko — Russian journalist, beaten to death (2017).
- Yelena Grigoryeva — Russian LGBT and human rights activist, murdered (2019).
- Valentin Danilov — Russian physicist. Arrested and imprisoned in modern Russia on trumped-up espionage charges for publishing open-source research (2000s).
- Andrei Zubov — Russian historian and political scientist. Dismissed from his university post for criticizing Putin's annexation of Crimea, persecuted and forced into exile (2014).
- Ivan Safronov — Russian journalist covering defense and space. Arrested on fabricated "treason" charges, sentenced to 22 years in prison (2022).
- Dmitry Kolker — Russian physicist. Arrested on trumped-up treason charges while terminally ill with cancer, died in custody two days later (2022).
- Viktoriia Roshchyna — Ukrainian investigative journalist (Zaporizhzhia). Kidnapped in Russian-occupied territory in 2022, body later returned without organs (2023).
- Yevgeny Prigozhin — Russian Wagner leader, plane crash, suspected foul play (2023).
- Alexei Navalny — Russian opposition leader, poisoned, imprisoned, and died in an Arctic prison (2024).
So when people say "the Russian people don't support the war" or "Russia has great culture", remember this: today's Z crowds cheer like yesterday's Nazi swastika parades, and much of the Russian culture the world admires came from people whom Russia itself persecuted, silenced, exiled, or killed.
I urge you to watch a revealing documentary Vladimir Putin's Long Shadow - the fifth estate a joint investigation by the fifth estate and PBS' Frontline. This documentary sheds light on Putin's true nature, uncovering allegations of his involvement in criminal activities dating back to his early days as a top official in St. Petersburg. It also exposes his ties to organized crime and money-laundering operations.
Moreover, the documentary raises disturbing questions about the Russian security services' role in the apartment building bombings in Moscow and other cities in 1999, which claimed the lives of nearly 300 people. Like all dictators, Putin scapegoated terrorists and "external forces" to deflect blame.
Russia's aggression towards Ukraine predates 2014. For further insight, consider exploring Why Putin Didn’t Invade Ukraine During Trump's Presidency.
Furthermore, the documentary Sons of Russia: The people fighting Putin's war in Ukraine reveals the alarming reality of Russia training children for combat.
Did you know that Soviet Union/Russia was Hitler's ally up until 1941? During Hitler's reign, the Soviet Union, under Stalin's leadership, shockingly forged a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany in 1939, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This agreement not only divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence but also included secret protocols that facilitated the annexation of territories by both parties. As part of this pact, the Soviet Union provided substantial support to Nazi Germany, including military equipment, raw materials such as metal ore crucial for war production, and agricultural products like wheat, which played a vital role in sustaining Germany's war effort. This collaboration culminated in the joint invasion of Poland by both Hitler and the Soviet Union in September 1939, followed by a chilling display of unity as their troops held a common parade in Warsaw. Hitler's speech on September 1st, 1939, justifying the invasion with fabricated claims of Polish aggression, mirrors Putin's rhetoric following the annexation of Crimea, where Putin justified Russia's actions in Ukraine by asserting a duty to protect Russian-speaking populations. These parallels highlight the recurrence of manipulation and aggression in history and underscore the importance of remaining vigilant against such tactics: How Hitler Invaded Half Of Europe.
It's ironic how back then the British Prime Minister was pursuing peace negotiations with Germany, reminiscent of today's efforts to engage in talks with Putin, echoing the futile attempts at diplomacy with Hitler. History teaches us that aggressors like Putin only comprehend the language of defeat.
More than 20 million people were killed between 1938 and 1945 because of Germany and Soviet Union alliance. To compare, the population of Canada in 1945 was 12 million.
Most people are unaware that Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, despite being allies at the time, was precipitated by his discovery of Soviet preparations to invade Germany. Hitler perceived this as a betrayal, particularly as he was gearing up to invade England. Viewing the Soviet actions as a direct threat, he chose to strike the Soviet Union instead.
Adding a layer of historical irony, while the Soviet Union had not provided any assistance to England or France during their earlier struggles with Germany, it sought Allied help when Moscow itself faced the threat of German invasion. Notably, during the defense of Moscow in 1941-1942, approximately one out of every three tanks used by the Soviets was supplied by the Allies—specifically, the United States, Canada, and England.
Have you ever puzzled over why so many Germans supported Hitler, or why they acquiesced to the horrors of death camps and gas chambers? Hitler's strategy was sinister yet effective:
"Never to admit a fault or wrong; never to accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time; blame that enemy for everything that goes wrong; take advantage of every opportunity to raise a political whirlwind." (©) Adolf Hitler.
This playbook is eerily mirrored in Putin’s actions today.
The annals of history are repeating themselves with chilling precision. The parallels between Putin and Hitler are stark and terrifying. Both leaders exploited nationalism, used scapegoats to galvanize support, and engaged in relentless propaganda to maintain power. Today, Putin, much like Hitler, is not just a local threat but a global menace. Recently, he escalated his belligerence by threatening Sweden and Finland with nuclear attacks, a clear tactic to intimidate and assert dominance. The international community stands hesitant, wary of provoking what can best be described as a monkey with a grenade—a volatile and unpredictable adversary. This monkey, emboldened by inaction and appeasement, will inevitably grasp at more than just threats. The question remains: will the world act decisively this time, or will we witness the horrors of history repeat themselves under a new guise?
The initial onslaught on the Soviet Union by Hitler in 1941, marked by the bombing of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, bears a stark resemblance to Putin's aggression in 2022, notably with the bombardment of the same city. Despite Putin's assurances of a swift conquest, the resilience of the Ukrainian people has significantly hindered Russian advances, with pivotal cities like Kyiv and Kharkov remaining under Ukrainian control.
Kyiv, steeped in over 1500 years of history, was a bustling cultural and political epicenter centuries before Moscow even existed as a rudimentary settlement. This relationship between Ukraine and Russia is akin to that of England and the United States — a cradle of ancient civilization versus a younger more agressive counterpart. The assertion that Ukraine's land belongs to Russia is as absurd as if Americans were to claim England as their native land. Such a comparison highlights the audacity and historical inaccuracy of attempts to rewrite the cultural and territorial legacies of independent nations.
Many of Russia's most touted achievements actually have Ukrainian fingerprints all over them. Take Sergei Korolev, the mastermind behind the Soviet space race, not only was he Ukrainian, but he also endured years in a gulag before propelling Russia into space. Luminaries like Nikolai Gogol, whose prose is a cornerstone of Russian literature, Kazimir Malevich, a revolutionary in abstract art, Igor Sikorsky, creator of the modern helicopter, Vladimir Vernadsky, a pivotal figure in geochemistry, and Georgy Voronoy, the mathematician behind Voronoi diagrams, are all titans in their fields, yet often their Ukrainian heritage is downplayed or erased in Russian narratives. This consistent appropriation and overshadowing of Ukrainian contributions expose a stark pattern of cultural and intellectual annexation by Russia.
The recent attacks on Kyiv, a city known for its beauty and peace, are utterly indefensible. Even as the city faces bombings and widespread destruction, the residents of Kyiv — my friends, colleagues, students, and teachers — remain steadfast. Their resilience is a testament to the indomitable spirit of this ancient city.
Russia’s blatant infringement on Ukrainian sovereignty is a violation of several agreements, including the Budapest memorandum, under which Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons (4th largest nuclear arsenal in the world at that time!) and nuclear bombers in return for security assurances. Additionally, despite Russia's acknowledgment of Ukrainian sovereignty through agreements like the one marking the end of the Soviet Union and the Friendship Agreement, it has not deterred the illegal annexation of Crimea and incursions into eastern Ukraine.
Before the invasion, Russian diplomats at the United Nations were falsely claiming that Russia was merely conducting military exercises, misleading the international community. Such deception is emblematic of a broader pattern of dishonesty that pervades modern Russian diplomacy. Lies have become a common tactic in Russia's international relations strategy, often used to obscure intentions and misdirect foreign scrutiny.
In Budapest memorandum Russia agreed, signed, and guaranteed the following:
- Respect Belarusian, Kazakh and Ukrainian independence and sovereignty in the existing borders.
- Refrain from the threat or the use of force against Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
Russian propaganda dismissively labels the Ukrainian president as a "drug addict." This so-called "drug addict," Volodymyr Zelensky, not only holds a law degree but also was overwhelmingly elected in a democratic landslide in 2019, securing over 70% of the vote. Zelensky has demonstrated remarkable courage and leadership by staying with his people in Kyiv during the invasion: Zelensky in Kyiv. Resolutely staying in Kyiv amidst bombardment, he famously declared, "I need ammunition, not a ride," signaling his unwavering commitment to defend his nation. In stark contrast, when faced with internal dissent from Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group, Putin retreated to a distant bunker far from Moscow. This crisis compelled him to sign a truce with Prigozhin, only for Prigozhin to later die under mysterious circumstances in an "accident." This sequence of events sharply delineates the stark differences in leadership: Zelensky's fearless stand with his people versus Putin's retreat and subsequent deceit.
Contrary to Russian propaganda claims that civilians are not targeted, extensive evidence reveals the harsh reality of significant civilian casualties, including children. Moreover, Russian troops have stigmatized Ukrainian defenders as "terrorists" and "fascists," a tactic reminiscent of Hitler's dehumanization strategies during World War II. The treatment of prisoners of war by Russian forces similarly mirrors the cruel directives once issued by Hitler. Yet, despite suffering heavy losses, you might wonder why Ukraine staunchly refuses to surrender or concede territory in exchange for peace. This unwavering determination is rooted in a deep sense of national identity and the grim lessons of history. For Ukraine, every piece of land conceded is not just a loss of soil but a surrender of sovereignty, culture, and future security. The memory of past compromises that led to further aggression fuels their resolve to resist, regardless of the immediate cost. To Ukrainians, yielding territory would not bring peace but merely invite further encroachments. Their fight is not just for land, but for the very essence of their nation's independence and the right to determine their own destiny.
Ukraine's staunch refusal to enter into any peace agreements with Russia is also deeply rooted in a justified wariness, amplified by the horrific atrocities like the Bucha massacre, where the brutal slaughter of civilians laid bare the ruthless nature of Russian forces. This massacre is not just an isolated incident but a stark illustration of the savagery that could recur under any superficial truce with a deceitful aggressor known for flouting international norms and agreements. Such brutal acts reinforce Ukraine’s resolve against trusting any overtures from Russia, viewing them as nothing more than treacherous maneuvers designed to consolidate control and perpetrate further violence.
This is what Russian troops did to a small peaceful city near the capital of Ukraine that had no military or weapons: Drone Video and this is drone footage shows scale of devastation in Mariupol.
Compare what Russia is doing in Ukraine in to what Russia did to its own people in Chechnya. Do you find any differences?
Please make no mistake! Ukraine won't surrender:
- 13 Ukrainian Troops Tell Off Russian War Ship in Final Act.
- Ukrainian Citizens Fight Off Russians In the Streets.
In case you want to help and make your personal statement against evil, you can make even a small donation in any currency (1,000 UAN ~ 35 USD):
- The Initiative of the President of Ukraine: United 24.
- National Bank of Ukraine special account for donations.
- Save Life non-profit organization.
- Other ways to help Ukrainian people.
Finally, don't be afraid of Putin! Russia's economy is surprisingly tiny.
Make no mistake, Mr. Putin is just a wealthy criminal who expertly wields his KGB training to intimidate and manipulate. His ultimate ambition is clear: to seize as much territory as possible in a bid to resurrect the "glory" of the Russian Empire, mirroring Hitler's quest to restore the German Empire. Just as the world united to halt the spread of fascism in 1945, we must now confront and halt the spread of Putinism and Rashism. The year 2022 must mark the definitive end of this dangerous resurgence, ensuring that such imperialistic ambitions are thwarted before they can inflict irreversible damage.
Alex Babanski, Ph.D.
