Heartbreaking tales of loss from ordinary Ukrainians show why we must support them – Christine Jardine
People in Scotland would do well to learn how ordinary Ukrainians have survived years of bombing, shortages and fear
I remember that everyone was convinced that it would be over in a few months, if not weeks. But four-and-a-half years on, there has been no let-up in the Ukraine War and pictures from its cities show a landscape devastated by bombing.
While we hear constantly about the front, the damage, the amount of money being poured into the war effort, there seems less to say about how society and communities are faring. The European Commission on Human Rights recently highlighted the escalating humanitarian crisis in Oleshky where civilians, including children are trapped without enough food, medicines or medical care.
This Thursday I will be hosting an event in Edinburgh with the Ukrainian Consulate which aims to highlight the societal issues. Politicians and community representatives from Ukraine and around two dozen Ukrainians, who I secured visas for, will hear the experiences of a group called Still We Love.
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Returning to a town under bombardment
At an earlier event, I organised with them in Westminster, we heard heartbreaking tales of loss amidst pictures of the fallen. Worst of all was speaking to a seven-year-old, Viktor, who was just so pleased that someone was actually listening to what he and his family have been going through.
When the group’s leader, Antonia, went home, it was to a town facing heavy bombardment. Every time since that we have reached out to her, there’s been the fear that she might not respond. My admiration for what she is doing for her country is immense.
Yes, we are spending billions on supporting their war effort, with Andy Burnham saying Britain's defence “starts in Ukraine”. The UK has now committed around £25 billion in support, including £16bn in military assistance, and at least £3bn a year in military aid is pledged until 2030-31. The UK has also announced another £100 million for Ukrainian air defence, adding to more than £600m already committed.
But for Antonia and those she speaks for, that is not going to help. Military families are, they say, often less visible in political discussions about Ukraine than soldiers, veterans or military assistance.
Strengthening social resilience to war
What Still We Love want is to their experiences to be better represented in our national conversation about backing for Ukraine. They want stronger links with our communities and civil societies but most of all they want us to look beyond immediate wartime assistance.
Speaking to women who have sacrificed so much, it is immediately clear that what they, their families and their country need is help reinforcing the resilience of their population and society.
As pressure here mounts to strengthen our defences, we would do well to look to our own social resilience. We can learn from Ukraine. We have seen how they have resisted, with our help, the Russian war machine. We have learned about modern warfare and how rapidly technology is developing.
But we need to learn too about how their communities have survived years of bombing, shortages and fear. How families are coping with the vacuum created by the loved ones they may never see again.
We should learn but we should also be grateful. This war may be taking place in Ukraine but their sacrifice is for all of us. Andy Burnham is right. Our defence starts in Ukraine.
Christine Jardine is the Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West
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