by Miceál O’Hurley
LVIV — Oleg X. (named changed to protect his identity) spoke with Diplomacy in Ireland – European Diplomat from an undisclosed location in Kyiv. He and his family have been sleeping in interior hallways to protect themselves from broken glass, shrapnel and debris from continuing Russian missile attacks. Oleg is an internationally famous Ukrainian artist. He spoke to this reporter giving his knowledge of the situation on the ground following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
I am reproducing below an extract from a previous article which Diplomacy in Ireland – European Diplomat believes needs to be repeated.
"If Russia were to stop fighting, the war would be over," said Martyna X. "But if Ukraine stops fighting, our nation and our future disappears. For our sake, and the future of Europe, we will fight-on and Ukraine will never give-up," she told Diplomacy in Ireland - European Diplomat.
In battles that will be remembered alongside Thermopylae and Bastogne, Ukrainians are fighting, falling, rising-up again and defending their homeland in towns the name of which the West will remember for eternity. By their blood sacrifice and heroism, endurance and determination, Ukrainians are giving humanity a lesson in the true cost of freedom, democracy, human rights and self-determination. Europe’s future is not being forged in Brussels or Berlin but in Kyiv and Kharkiv.