💔 The Wounds That Cannot Heal Without Justice ⚖️

Should we forgive Russians for the atrocities they have committed and continue to commit against Ukrainians? The answer to this question varies greatly depending on who you ask. It differs based on whether the person is knowledgeable about the conflict, has only heard fragments of information, or has been personally affected by the war through direct experience or the loss of loved ones. Let me analyze this complex issue from my perspective.

Forgiveness, I believe, can only truly begin after justice has been served. As a Ukrainian, I feel a responsibility to teach my children about Russia's actions while also educating them about the concept of forgiveness. But this forgiveness can only come after Russians acknowledge their wrongdoing and seek redemption—only then will our wounds properly heal. We must never forget these events, just as Jewish people have never forgotten the atrocities committed by the Nazis.

This is not the first time Ukraine has suffered at Russian hands. From the Holodomor—the man-made famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in 1932-33—to decades of Soviet repression of Ukrainian language and culture, there is a long history of aggression that shapes our current perspective. This pattern makes accountability even more crucial before any discussion of forgiveness can begin.

To Russians who remain silent on this topic: don't dare to think that your reluctance to speak out to your relatives or friends places you in a righteous position. Your silence makes you complicit with those committing murders and destruction. There is no middle ground in matters of such grave injustice—there is no such thing as remaining lukewarm.

This is not about forgetting or minimizing suffering, but about creating a future where such suffering is neither continued nor repeated. True forgiveness, if it ever comes, will not erase the past but will allow both nations to build a different future—one based on truth, justice, and mutual respect for sovereignty and human dignity.