“Point Y” and fulcrum

Ukrainians crossed the threshold in their own minds: pacifism - the religion of a generation of older and middle-aged Ukrainian citizens - is killed

Honestly, I did not expect such a reaction from myself. But it turned out to be faster than the idea that applauding murder weapons is somehow wrong, to put it mildly.

New and repaired armored vehicles rolled along Khreshchatyk, which went directly from the parade in honor of the Independence Day to the ATO zone. That is, to the war, if you call a spade a spade. In fact, President Poroshenko has already done this in a speech, calling what is happening the “Patriotic War of 2014”. When on the roadway, where until recently the tents of the Maidan, appeared sharp, like huge sharpened pencils, Tochka U missile systems, the ovation of the audience became thunderous.

“The firing range is up to 120 kilometers, the area of destruction is up to 70 hectares”, “... they are capable of destroying the weapons and manpower of the enemy,” the female announcer commented. For some reason I remember the voice. It sounded the terrible triumph of the wife and mother, hoping that her native men are now no longer targets, but they themselves will be able to send a sufficient number of enemies to the "two hundredth".

The enemy (it's easier to think so) does not have a human face. It is bursting with mass and iron across a border that has not been consciously delimited, not demarcated, and has never been seriously guarded. It is impossible to continue to consider that the great bloodshed and victims in Donbas are only a consequence of an internal, ideological, civil conflict, even in the name of international negotiations on a settlement. Children's definitions of the shameful - "little green men", "polite people" - remained in the time of the annexation of Crimea. The aggressor should be called, as it should be for adults: the army of the Russian Federation. The army itself does not attack, it only follows orders.

Really fight with Russia? Will the sky fall to earth from such a question? No, the sky is there.

We cross the threshold, the basic "Y-point" in our own consciousness. Pacifism, the religion of a generation of older and middle-aged Ukrainian citizens, has been killed. The young (the first among them are the wounded in battle present at the parade) already know that the struggle for peace will require modern weapons, a variety of weapons, and well-equipped soldiers. Also, one cannot do without volunteers, partisans, volunteers, those who know how to provide first aid, organize the work of the rear, and provide information support. In separate lines - the modernization of the army structure as such: an agile, non-corrupt command, modern training centers for combat training, professional foreign intelligence and counterintelligence.

What is needed is a military doctrine that names both strategic partners and potential adversaries without cunning. We need a resuscitation of defense enterprises based on Western technologies and a public discussion about rapprochement with NATO. We need a lot, a lot of funds from the budget, up to the notorious “guns instead of butter” - and it doesn’t matter what they say outside the country. Because, unfortunately, it is impossible to preserve and defend these limits in a different way.

Those born in the USSR understand that until now both Russia and Ukraine had fragments of an army that was Soviet in nature. Reforming one side of its defense capability will not just tear the fabric. This flap will never be sewn back into place. The new part will reject it as an alien body: one must pray to God that at least in a generation the countries will simply become indifferent to each other.

But so far, the topic of inevitable militarization is rightfully in demand in Ukrainian society. Models are trying on - who to look like? Defense Minister Geletey expressed confidence that the army would be built according to the Swiss model, the closest to the national mentality.

The minister is not allowed, as he used to be, to dream about reforms on TV with impunity. Moreover, this is done by people who literally sniffed gunpowder in the Donbass.

“The idea is great! Only the Ukrainian state spends two percent of GDP on the army, and Switzerland - 20. The ministers wanted to lower the level, the people refused in the referendum: security comes first.” “The Swiss model involves the storage of light weapons in the houses of reservists. Will our government go for it? They fear the armed people more than the aggressor!” "You just need to join NATO and create a normal contract army." “Let Geletheus teach history: there has been no war in Switzerland for two hundred years, why? Not because everyone is sleeping with guns, but because the country is mainly engaged in financial transactions, stores the money of the whole world. People there are rich and happy, not evil and poor, as in the Donbass. Make Ukrainians rich, and not a single Putin will get in our way!” “That's right: first our people must get rich. Money should go to the country, but not loans to the government, but funds raised from investors. Under the current system, the Swiss charter is either stupid PR or mountains of cannon fodder.”

"Point U" and the fulcrum for the development of the country do not yet fully coincide.