Glory to Ukraine鈥檚 cultural muses
When Ukraine鈥檚 military launched its big counteroffensive in June, it was aimed at entrenched Russian forces. Yet just as critical to Ukraine鈥檚 independence is another campaign started last year. It is aimed at challenging one of Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 premises for the war: that Ukraine lacks the cultural identity to be an independent state.
Russian forces have destroyed many icons of Ukrainian heritage 鈥� religious sites, opera houses, libraries, monuments, and museums. But Ukrainians have also rallied to embrace their pluralistic and rich culture with a newfound national dignity.
鈥淧utin appears not to have grasped that hitting Ukraine鈥檚 culture would instead fuel its vitality,鈥� Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, wrote in Time after visiting the country.聽
Ukraine鈥檚 initial response was to 鈥渄e-Russify鈥� much of its Russian and Soviet past. Many Russian speakers have learned Ukrainian. Soviet-era public symbols have been torn down. On July 28, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law moving the Christmas holiday to Dec. 25 from Jan. 7, the day the Russian Orthodox Church observes it. An explanation of the law cites Ukrainians鈥� 鈥渞elentless, successful struggle for their identity鈥� and 鈥渢he desire of all Ukrainians to live their lives with their own traditions, holidays.鈥�
People also have emphasized qualities that mark Ukrainian life. Concerts and shows by Ukrainian artists are often sold out. Petty bribery has dropped as Ukrainians demand honesty in government. A fashion brand now touts the slogan 鈥淏ravery Is Ukraine鈥檚 Brand.鈥� With foreign help, Ukraine鈥檚 museums have moved their collections to safe places while ensuring the artworks are available to inspire people.
鈥淭he strength of聽Ukraine鈥檚 resistance has depended less on the military assistance provided by NATO members than on the Ukrainian people鈥檚 insistence on their own agency and destiny,鈥� wrote Yuriy Gorodnichenko, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Ilona Sologoub, editor of VoxUkraine, for Project Syndicate.
Ukraine鈥檚 spirit of independence shines not only in its military efforts but also in its cultural revival. Or, as journalist James Meek wrote in the London Review of Books, 鈥淥ne 鈥媜f the most striking things about Kyiv this summer is the freedom with which people are imagining, and in some cases already making, their own future.鈥�
