Sasha Nikanova
Senior Staff Writer
Feb. 24 marked three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While, due to decreased news coverage, it might be difficult to believe that the war is still ongoing, this issue has been not only persisting but also escalating as of late. Although UC Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Ukrainian diaspora is not prevalent, it is a tight-knit group of students who remain deeply affected by this war. As a university dedicated to promoting equality and justice, it is our community’s responsibility to support the cause that the Ukrainians have been fighting for these past three years: democracy, sovereignty, and freedom. Unless we take action to ensure that Ukraine receives the peace that it has been advocating for, we will be betraying all the core values that shape the American identity.
In an interview with The Bottom Line (TBL), UCSB Ukrainian Club’s president, Ljosha Kremliovsky, emphasized the importance of staying properly informed about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Kremliovsky said, “We as Ukrainians cannot inform Americans [about the war] unless they do their own research. The only way we can educate Americans about what is going on is if they keep their minds open and [critically analyze] information.” When asked about how crucial it is for the American public to spread awareness about Ukraine’s struggle, he claimed it is “very” important, “especially now, with the harmful anti-Ukraine rhetoric that has, unfortunately, become part of [the U.S.] government.”
This is, of course, referring to the recent commentary made by President Trump regarding Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, claiming that President Zelenskyy is a “dictator” because he refuses to have elections. This rebuttal was made mere days after Ukraine criticized the U.S. administration for meeting with Russia at a “peace summit” in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine was excluded from this “negotiation,” which prompted President Zelenskyy to reply that “no decisions” shall be made about Ukraine without Ukraine.
The issue with President Trump’s claim is that President Zelenskyy is no less of a legitimate leader than, for example, President Trump himself, since he won Ukraine’s democratic election in 2019. The reason that President Zelenskyy is nearing his sixth year as president is that Ukraine cannot — and should not — hold elections during a time of external conflict, as mandated by martial law.
First of all, more than 6.9 million refugees have fled Ukraine in search of safety, which makes up about 16 percent of Ukraine’s total population. Holding elections without this significant portion of the population being able to vote would be, in itself, undemocratic. Similarly, Ukraine cannot hold an election without the votes of the soldiers fighting in the armed forces of Ukraine, who do not have access to voting ballots. In addition, gathering large groups of civilians at voting stations that do not have underground bunkers would mean putting thousands of Ukrainians in unnecessary danger of being struck by Russian missiles.
Despite all this, President Zelenskyy responded to President Trump’s groundless claim by reiterating that “If, for peace for Ukraine, it’s truly necessary for you that I leave my post, I am ready. We can exchange it for NATO membership. If those are the terms, then let’s do it without delay.” President Putin, on the other hand, is in his fifth term as Russia’s president, yet, when asked if President Putin was a dictator, President Trump dodged the question.
Kremliovsky highlighted the importance of distinguishing fact from fiction, stating that it is “the number one protection against Russian propaganda.” He emphasized that American aid is one of the most beneficial acts of solidarity that every citizen of this country can engage in because “supporting Ukraine is the de-escalation of the conflict.” Kremliovsky also stressed that “As long as there is an authoritarian government as powerful as Russia, there will always be mass human rights violations, there will always be war, and this is not going to be a one-time war.” Considering the historical precedent of Russia invading other sovereign states (Georgia, Syria, and the Crimean Peninsula), it is not a far-fetched claim that Russia might take this invasion to countries beyond just Ukraine.
On the anniversary of three years of war, the Ukrainian Club at UCSB, together with other supporters of Ukraine, gathered in downtown Santa Barbara to protest Russian aggression in a rally. The event hosted representatives from Glove4Ukraine, Ukrainians of Santa Barbara, and even an elected official from California, District Attorney John Savrnoch. In a conversation with TBL, DA Savrnoch stated that Russia’s invasion is “an attempt to subjugate a democratic nation.” When asked about what he wishes more Americans knew about Ukraine, he replied, “Ukraine did not choose this war. Ukrainians are fighting for the principles that our country was founded upon. This fight is broader; it is about people being free.”
DA Savrnoch also posed a crucial question, asserting that “If no impediments are being put up to dictators, then that is the system that will start permeating the world. If Ukraine falls without resistance, who is next?” He expressed the hope that everyone in the U.S. would learn the truth about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and encouraged Americans to “not lock yourself into one source of information and [to] talk to real Ukrainians” when resisting Russian propaganda.
The rally in Santa Barbara was merely a small part of the resistance movement that Ukrainians are leading internationally. We made our voices heard when the war started three years ago, and we will continue to defy oppression for as long as it takes. It is not only our liberty that is at stake but the rest of the world’s, too. To all fellow UCSB students: remember that even if you cannot support Ukraine economically, your activism can still make a difference. So, show up to a protest, demonstrate your support for Ukraine as you stand by our side, and spread awareness about this issue to anyone who will listen. It matters more than you think.
Sasha Nikanova, a Ukrainian student at UCSB, urges the student population to express their support for Ukraine following the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.