Ukraine Treated as 'Collateral Damage' in War to Protect Democracy, Kyiv Independent CEO Says

Daryna Shevchenko, CEO of the Kyiv Independent, argues that Ukraine is being treated as collateral damage in the ongoing war to protect liberal democratic values. In a recent article, Shevchenko emphasizes that the solution to Russia's war of aggression does not lie in Russia itself, but rather in directly supporting Ukraine.

Why this matters: The fate of Ukraine has significant implications for the global balance of power and the future of liberal democracy. If Ukraine falls, it could embolden authoritarian regimes and undermine the principles of sovereignty and self-determination.

Shevchenko frequently attends events and conferences where people ask why the Kyiv Independent doesn't cooperate with independent Russian journalists to reach a Russian audience. She believes this question reveals a harmful delusion that the solution to Russia's war lies in the hands of the Russian people.

"We don't see the point [of cooperating with independent Russian journalists]," Shevchenko states bluntly. She argues that Russia has had opportunities to build a democracy, but the Russian people have not seized them. The Russian people have had access to facts and information, yet they have not risen up against Russia's invasions and annexations.

Shevchenko points out that the largest anti-war protest in Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 only drew a couple thousand people in Moscow. She asserts that the Russian people have never existed in an informational vacuum and have had access to objective information.

Ukrainians initially tried to reach out to friends and family in Russia to inform them about the war, but were met with indifference. A poll by the Levada Center found that 77% of Russians support the invasion of Ukraine. Shevchenko contends that the world's focus on supporting Russian civil society diverts resources away from Ukraine and only benefits Putin's regime.

"The truth is that this quest [to uncover the mysterious Russian soul] only benefits Putin's regime and takes resources away from Ukraine," Shevchenko writes. She recounts a conversation with an independent Russian journalist friend who asked what they could do. Shevchenko sarcastically asked if she was writing from a jail cell. When her friend said no, Shevchenko replied, "I responded that in that case, she didn't try."

Shevchenko's message highlights the frustration and disillusionment many Ukrainians feel after witnessing the indifference and complicity of the Russian people in the face of their country's aggression. "We of all people know what it means when they say thatpower belongs to the people,"Shevchenko writes, stressing the responsibility of citizens to hold their governments accountable.

War in Ukraine continues to rage on, Shevchenko's article serves as a sobering warning that the solution does not lie in appealing to the Russian people or relying on independent Russian journalists. The focus, she argues, must be on directly supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression and protecting the liberal democratic values under threat.

Key Takeaways

• Ukraine is being treated as collateral damage in the war to protect liberal democracy.
• The solution to Russia's war lies in directly supporting Ukraine, not in Russia itself.
• Russia's people have had access to facts and info, but haven't risen up against invasions.
• Focusing on Russian civil society diverts resources from Ukraine and benefits Putin's regime.
• Directly supporting Ukraine is crucial to protecting liberal democratic values.