“We Will Never Forget” – artist Eugene Tymchyk reports from Ukraine, comments on the Russian invasion

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine beginning on February 24th, in our special series of brief interviews and insider information (see part one HERE), we sit down with artists and bands from Kyiv, Kharkiv, and more Ukrainian cities to let them  speak out against the war in Ukraine and share some insights and dramatic perspective about the harsh situation in their country under attack.

Joining us today is Rivne based Eugene Tymchyk of Odessa alt rock / metal band SEPTA and mathcore band THE NIETZSCHE, who shared his thoughts on the situation and gave us a broader context to this brutal conflict.

Editorial note: We urge everyone to immediately oppose Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This act of cruel aggression should be resisted with all the means necessary. We strongly believe that the war in Ukraine is a fight for freedom, for the future of democracy, the rest of European countries, the global legal order, and respect for human rights.

Where are you at the moment and where were you at the very beginning of the invasion? Please tell us how it felt and looked like from your perspective.

At home, asleep, like pretty much everyone. Once I watched President Zelenskiy’s video address it was pretty clear that invasion is imminent. I woke up with the first explosion and the war began. It felt surreal. But every bit of my brain mobilized and we’ve started preparing for future bombings, how to stay safe.

What’s your take on this tough subject and how would you assess the current difficult political and situation between Russia and Ukraine? What’s your general stance on this subject and the division between both nations?

Russia hated the very existence of Ukrainian identity for as long as our people exist. They disdain us, because we look like them, we eat like them, we talk like them, but we’re completely different. We are hard-working, good-hearted and free, this is almost antipodical in its nature to the Russian nation.

It’s not that difficult if you look at the history of the region for the past thousand years. They’ve tried conquering us over and over again, but somehow Ukrainians always prevailed. Situation today is almost identical to the one that happened hundred years ago when the USSR invaded the newly formed Ukrainian Republic and installed their puppet hetman, just to devour it as a union state.

They drained us for the eight years in Donbass, but what they didn’t know that they also fueled our nationality, unity and pushed us further away from neighboring country of terror.

The complex relationship between your countries is something widely misunderstood, especially in the Western countries. Can you briefly explain the background of this conflict to someone not educated in this matter?

Current situation began when we revolted against our corrupt Russian-leaning president Yanukovic, he fled, after that Russia annexed Crimea, and started insurrections in Eastern regions, Kharkiv and Odesa. These two cities stood strong, but in Donbass war ignited. It wasn’t civil war, it wasn’t war with the separatists, it was our first taste of war with Russia. It lasted eight years with no change of land or visible expansion.

And then five days ago full-scale invasion began with ballistic missiles hitting cities with more than a million people in population, with tanks and cannons shelling our houses, troopers falling from the sky, warplanes dropping bombs on our head.

𝑆𝑜 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑥, 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡-𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑.

On the other hand, a considerable part of Ukrainian residents are pro-Russian. How do you estimate this ratio of the division between your people? Also, regarding your closest neighborhood, have you felt any palpable appreciation and support towards Russian politics and their agenda?

There’s no pro-Russian residents left in Ukraine. Every bit of sympathy anyone had for our neighbors vanished on February 24th. It will never come back. We will never forget. The difference between us has never been clearer.

𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑠.

How do you think where it’s heading? What future do you see for your country?

It will either end with World War III or with the full destruction of Russia. They are already destroyed, like the casket of a deadman they are moving, driven by inertia, brain is dead, only muscle memory. And Russian people trapped in its decaying body.

𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑖𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑠.

Lastly, how can we help?

Spread the word, ban everything Russian, and donate HERE.