Russian Invasion of Ukraine Teach-Out

The following content is a written submission to this Teach-Out from a Ukrainian citizen who we will call Stephan Sirko. We’ve changed their name to protect their identity. We were fortunate enough to be able to ask Stephan a few questions about his perspectives of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Editor's note: English is not his native language. However, we chose to include his responses in full, with only minor editing for clarity, so that his authentic voice and perspective could be featured. 

March 1, 2022

Question: Please tell us about yourself.

Stephan Sirko: I was born and raised in a small town near Poltava, Ukraine. In farmers family. Friendly and caring family. Like all the other kids we were going to school had a fun normal children's life. We were always taught that war is something in the past and we should never experience it again. Unfortunately that is not the case anymore.

Question: How are your family and friends doing in Ukraine? What has their experience been like since Russia's invasion last week?

Stephan Sirko: They are in the state of terror since Feb 22nd 5am local time. They woke up from the sounds of rocket explosions in all big cities across the country. Shocked and helpless they had to quickly come up with the plan of what to do and where to hide. So people started to work on basements immediately (cleaning them and getting them ready to use as a shelter). Day two, three, four.. and until today all they see is bombing, shots fired and fire everywhere. With that said the biggest thing that everybody feels is that feeling of how much all of this is unfair. What did we do to deserve something like that? We never had any nazi or whatever Putin's propaganda is telling their people. We never fought against each other. Yes, in 2014 we got rid of a criminal president and made a revolution and we won it. But Putin saw that as a weak spot at the time and struck right in. Their people sent a bunch of snipers and started shooting our people. But on their TV they made it like we were fighting against each other. After that, the rotten TV never said anything good about Ukraine and made their people believe that we are evil. And all of it is a lie.

Question: What are your reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

Stephan Sirko: Absolute unfairness and humiliating actions from the Russian government. This is painful to see when women have to deliver babies in bomb shelters. It is painful to see all our historical architecture being destroyed. After a day being in a state of shock. I started looking for any possible way to help. So we as a community across the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe and everywhere around the globe are doing our best to donate money, send close, medications and everything they need there any way possible.

Question: From your perspective, why do you think this is happening?

Stephan Sirko: From my perspective the Russian president has personal hate to Ukrainians (not sure why though). I feel like he grew up in a former WWII environment and never had a chance to be a part of it. He read about Hitler, Stalin and others and wanted to be like them but never had a chance. So now he really wanted to play a full scale war but he can't really do it against powerful enemies so he picked someone weaker like he thought... But Ukrainians got together and fought back so hard that he got confused and lost his mind completely. This is what I think. Of course there's way more into it. Power, money, status. But he got to the point that now he uses his own people to protect his own lie and there is no way out.. His people go to Ukraine and die for no real reason, they have no goal to achieve, there is no higher idea, it is just a mess and nothing else. On the other hand, our people are standing their ground to protect their homeland, mothers, kids, spouses and future. We have truth that is why they can't win. There's no path if there is no goal.

Question: What is the media getting right about this conflict? What are they getting wrong?

Stephan Sirko: I'm mostly getting my info from the internet. Let's be honest, I only get all of the info from the internet, and I use only trusted publications (I think they are trusted sources). So I think the media has it right. But anything that comes out from Russian media is a lie. And I'm not BIAS at this point it is true.

Question: What would you like the world to know about this situation that may be missing from the current conversation/coverage?

Stephan Sirko: I'd like the world to know that Ukraine is not a brand new country like a lot of people think. That Ukraine is not a part of Russia like a lot of people think. We have a rich, old and bright culture. Our traditions and our own language. It is a few thousand years old that must mean something.

Question: How can the learners in the Teach-Out help Ukrainians? Do you know of any organizations that people could support?

Stephan Sirko: Best way to support Ukraine right now is to send money to our army and a bunch of different helping organizations. Spread the word and bring that awareness of what is happening for real in Ukraine.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Stephan Sirko: English is my third language so please don't mind my grammar and the way I build sentences. And thank you for doing this. This should bring some awareness to the world. This will help. We stand with Ukraine.