Oleksandra Matviichuk: “Putin Is Afraid of a Democratic Ukraine. That Is Why He Started This War”

Article at El Diario de Hoy, published on 13 March 2022: https://historico.elsalvador.com/historico/936236/testimonio-desde-ucrania-oleksandra-matviichuk-exclusiva.html

From Kyiv, Ukraine, renowned activist Oleksandra Matviichuk spoke with El Diario de Hoy to provide a firsthand account of the current state of Russia's invasion and the courageous resistance of her compatriots. She also warned that Putin has an insatiable thirst for expanding Russia and compared him to Adolf Hitler.

Oleksandra Matviichuk is one of Ukraine’s most recognized activists and has been documenting war crimes committed by Russian troops in recent weeks. From Kyiv, she granted an exclusive interview to El Diario de Hoy, in which she warned that Vladimir Putin is a staunch enemy of freedom and will not stop until he punishes Ukrainians for fighting for liberty and democracy. Here’s what she had to say:

What is the current situation in Ukraine?

In Kyiv, we are preparing for a massive Russian attack. Russian troops have tried to encircle the city, and we are all staying in our homes, trying to support the general resistance.

At this moment, I can tell you that this is a major failure for the Russian army. They were certain they would have Kyiv under siege two or three days after crossing the border. But now we have resisted for two weeks against an army that has been described as the second most powerful in the world. I believe this is a great failure for the Russian military.

There are several factors at play. The first is that they don’t understand that Ukrainians are completely different from Russians, even considering that we were together in the Soviet Union. For Ukrainians, freedom is a top priority. We will fight for our freedom, and we will die for our freedom.

Second, I believe the Russian army is not as powerful as the world thinks. You cannot have an effective institution within an ineffective state. Russia is a country where everything is corrupt and dysfunctional, and its army is a reflection of that general situation.

How do you explain the courage and determination of the Ukrainian resistance?

To answer that, you have to understand Ukraine’s history. We are an ancient nation that has fought for its sovereignty for centuries, not just years. Initially, we were taken over by the Russian Empire, then by the Soviet Union, and when we had the opportunity to be independent, we decided we would fight for the chance to build a democratic future.

I must admit that it’s encouraging to feel the wave of solidarity from around the world, but we don’t need emotions and empty words—we need proactive actions because we are being killed. This may be a historic display of courage, but I want us to win.

How can the world help you win?

The problem isn’t that they don’t know how to stop Putin—the problem is that they don’t know how to step out of their comfort zone.

For example, stop buying oil and gas from Russia. Cut all Russian banks from the international banking system. Provide Ukrainians with the necessary weapons to protect our skies. Blacklist Russia from the Financial Action Task Force. The problem is that we don’t know how much time we have.

Because of the brutality of the attacks?

I have been documenting war crimes, and I can tell you they are intensifying daily. Recently, the Russians deliberately attacked a maternity hospital in Mariupol, and those horrifying images of pregnant women and children among the rubble have been seen worldwide.

They have resorted to war crimes, leveling entire cities to the ground. Every day that democracies just sit and hesitate about taking action results in more Ukrainian deaths.

What other war crimes have they committed?

They have deliberately bombed non-military sites like schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and more. They have attacked people trying to flee cities under bombardment.

They have used weapons banned by international criminal law, and they have disguised Russian soldiers as civilians or Ukrainian military personnel to ambush and kill Ukrainian forces. In one case in Kyiv, they used an ambulance, which under international law is strictly prohibited for military purposes.

They have also deliberately attacked medical personnel providing aid to the wounded. Additionally, they have used indiscriminate weapons, such as unguided bombs and cluster munitions, which have caused massive civilian casualties.

Are you optimistic about the ongoing International Criminal Court investigation into Russia’s war crimes?

I firmly believe that, sooner or later, international investigations will lead to trials. The problem is that international justice is slow, but people are dying now—at this very moment—which is why we must consolidate efforts as an international community to prevent further victims. This means stopping Putin.

What do Ukrainians aspire to? What does "winning" mean to you?

This is a battle between autocracy and democracy. Eight years ago, we rose against an authoritarian regime; the people protested peacefully for a country where everyone’s rights and lives are protected, where the courts are independent, the government is accountable, and the police do not beat peaceful protesters. Now, we are paying a high price for that.

Putin fears Ukraine’s democratic future. That’s why he started this war.

What do you think about the possibility of Ukraine conceding to some of Vladimir Putin’s demands to stop the attacks?

There is no room for concessions because Putin wants to drag us back into the past—the Soviet mindset that claims Ukrainians and Russians are the same people and that seeks to impose an authoritarian model of governance. And if we refuse, he will kill us. There is very little space for concessions in this regard.

What about the decision not to join NATO?

Putin is not afraid of NATO. Putin is afraid of the spread of freedom. If Ukrainians embraced a corrupt autocracy, Putin would have no problem with that. But when Ukrainians moved toward democratic transformation, Putin occupied Crimea and launched a hybrid war. Concessions only delay the inevitable failure, and that is something Ukrainians will never accept.

We’ve talked a lot about Putin, but what do you think of the Russian people? Do you believe they support this invasion?

Unfortunately, yes. I have very good colleagues in Russia, human rights defenders with whom I have worked for years. These colleagues are very brave and remind me that Russia is not just a country of war and Putin.

The problem is that the majority of Russians genuinely wanted this war. This is due to their imperialist legacy and their failure to learn from history—they still believe Stalin was a great administrator instead of a genocidal leader who committed crimes against humanity.

My Russian colleague Vladimir Pastukhov has said that Putin is the collective ear that reflects the group intentions of the Russian people. Unfortunately, Russians bear historical responsibility for this war. The small minority that takes anti-war actions is very brave, but they are a small minority and do not represent the entire nation.

Do you see a way out of this invasion?

Yes, I see that Ukraine’s democratic partners in the West—such as the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and others—must take radical actions against Putin. He quickly realized that he could not divide them as he had hoped. Now, the West is standing united against him. Until then, the attacks will continue, and the current negotiations are not real negotiations—they are illusions.

If he is not stopped, will Putin be satisfied with invading Ukraine?

Of course not. Putin has resorted to armed conflict in Chechnya, Transnistria (Moldova), Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Georgia), Syria, Crimea and Donbas (Ukraine), and now this full-scale invasion. His appetite only grows, just like Hitler’s. History is repeating itself.