Stories of national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine struggling against russian aggression compiled in Almanac of Resistance

The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience has compiled the Almanacs of Resistance, which features stories about how national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine have resisted russian aggression, defended their right to independence and supported the country in every possible way in the difficult time of the bloody war started by russia

This was one of the issues discussed during the marathon at Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform.

According to Viktor Yelenskyi, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, the idea to collect such testimonies and stories came almost immediately after the start of the full-scale invasion, when in the very first weeks it became clear that the enemy, who hoped that Ukraine would split along ethnic lines, had badly miscalculated.

“We saw very vivid examples of national communities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine sacrificing themselves to defend their Motherland. These were really impressive examples, vivid examples of self-sacrifice, when people of different nationalities fought back against the enemy,” said Viktor Yelenskyi.

He added that examples of resisting the enemy and defending the Motherland by national minorities and indigenous peoples, who in no way separate themselves from the Ukrainian political nation, multiply every day.

In his turn, Ihor Lossovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, noted that Ukraine is one of the most multinational countries in Europe.

According to the latest census, about 20% of the population in Ukraine are representatives of national minorities, of which there are about 130. At the same time, the war showed the unity of all communities within the country.

“This situation showed how united we are. All national minorities have demonstrated that they are full-fledged, complete, they are Ukrainians first and foremost. They are representatives of different national communities, but they are Ukrainians. And many of them showed their worth in the military field, in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the Territorial Defense Forces. But they also showed their worth in other work countering the russian aggressor – this is humanitarian work, this is also volunteer work, informational work, this is also the work of our doctors. All national minorities showed their worth, and showed it from a positive side,” he emphasized.

It is worth noting that in addition to its printed version the Almanac of Resistance is available online at the link.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news