Removal of Soviet-era statues sped up when Russia seized Crimea in 2014, and since Putin’s 2022 invasion has moved at pace as Ukrainians question their identity

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/10430184

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After winning independence in 1991, Ukraine removed large numbers of Soviet-era statues and renamed streets as part of “decommunisation”. The process sped up in 2014 when Russia seized Crimea and fighting began in the Donbas, and moved even faster after Vladimir Putin’s 2022 full-scale invasion that aimed to scrub Ukraine from Europe’s map.

Nataliia Kryvda, a professor of the history of culture at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, said Ukraine was going through an unfinished period of decolonisation. “The USSR absorbed national cultures. It tried to make a single nation of Soviet citizens. Russia today looks at Ukraine and says we are one people. It isn’t true. We have our own mindset, historical destiny, beliefs and dreams. Our identity is a dynamic process,” she said.

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      • ordnance_qf_17_pounder@reddthat.com
        11·
        7 hours ago

        No, but they should make sure their friends aren’t literally some of the worst people in the world before they start calling anyone enemies of humanity.

          • ordnance_qf_17_pounder@reddthat.com
            11·
            3 hours ago

            Call it whatever makes you feel better. Doesn’t change the fact that such criticism rings hollow when you stand proudly shoulder to shoulder with the butcher of Gaza and the Trump regime who are actively murdering people today.

            • pluggerslugs@piefed.socialEnglish
              11·
              2 hours ago

              You’re talking like they’re kissing ass for any reason other than just not fucking themselves while actively engaged in an existential war, which is why I’m comfortable calling it lazy political criticism. It’s being unrelated to the topic should be self-evident.

              Also, I’m not really sure I’d describe their relationship with Israel as particularly close, especially given Israel’s persistent unwillingness to provide military aid, publicly condemn Russia’s aggression (going back to 2014) either individually or as a UN member state, or basically do anything vis-à-vis Ukraine that might remotely upset Russia. Hell, they won’t even refrain from buying shipments of wheat that Russia stole from Ukraine.

              If anything, Ukraine’s involvement in the middle east is about Iran. You know why they’re experienced with stopping shaheed drones, right?

              • mrdown@lemmy.world
                1·
                21 minutes ago

                Zelensky and putin are competing with esch other on how much they can lick israel’s boots

                Israel’s right to defense is beyond question. All the circumstances of this terrorist attack must be clarified so that the world knows and brings to justice everyone who incited the attack and helped organize it

    • Wildmimic@anarchist.nexusEnglish
      54·
      20 hours ago

      Those are currently not raiding Ukraine. But a Trump statue (ideally golden) would probably help with securing more PAC-3, and gold spray isn’t expensive. Bonus if a Russian ballistic missile hit the Statue - Trump would be furious.