Ukrainians are doing themselves proud

If Ukraine eventually falls to the Russians, it certainly won’t be due to a lack of fighting for the country.
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine last week, the images and stories coming out of the Ukraine of the Ukrainian people running toward, not from, a fight with one of the most powerful armies in the world is the stuff of legend. In a weird way it makes even Americans swell with pride, to see this undermanned and outmatched country fighting for its right to still be an independent, sovereign nation. If Russian president Vladimir Putin hasn’t figured it out yet, the Ukranian people don’t want the Russians there, and they certainly don’t want to be ruled by him.
By now we’ve all seen the stories. Every able-bodied UkraInian male—and a lot of women for that matter—are lining up to take on the Russians. Thousands of guns have been passed out to the general population. Veterans and reservists are joining the ranks. Celebrities are signing up as well. A boxer who was world champion in three different categories, Vasiliy Lomachenko, has joined the defense of his country by enlisting in the territorial defense forces of his country. In addition, brothers Wladimiry and Vitali Klitschko have decided to fight in this conflict, heavyweight champions in their time in the ring, have both taken up arms to defend their country. Vitali is now the mayor of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine where fighting is the fiercest. Even a the former Mrs. Ukraine, Anastasiia Lenna, has taken up arms and joined the list of unlikely heroes for the country.
We’ve all read the stories, some of which seem straight out of a movie script (and some of which may or may not be true, admittedly). The Ukranian Reaper. The Ghost of Kyiv. “Russian warship, go f*** yourself.” Men in their 70s and 80s vowing to fight. Everyday citizens learning to make Molotov cocktails. They certainly aren’t going down without a fight. It’s the exact opposite of Afghanistan, where the minute the United States took its armed forces away most of the people in that country rolled over for the Taliban. The Ukranian people want their country. They are willing to fight and die for it. Ukraine’s people are winning the PR battle and gaining respect all over the world.
We certainly can’t forget the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has also vowed to fight and rebuffed the United States’ offer to be flown out of the country, telling our country that he needed ammunition, not a ride.
“The fight is here,” he said.
The world, for the most part, has galvanized around Ukraine and turned on Russia. That’s the way it should be. Ukraine is a sovereign, peaceful nation, and Russia has no right to invade it. Putin is a madman that must be stopped. Ukraine has taken the first steps to do that, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.

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