In what ways are the "real" Ukrainians more powerful than the Russians?
After 2014, many Ukrainians woke up to their national identity, and I noticed that most Russians exhibited almost none of the qualities.
Many Russians and Ukrainians are patriotic and love their homeland. But this love between Russians and Ukrainians is expressed in different ways. In my opinion, patriotic Ukrainians love their homeland more actively. But their patriotism is more like nationalism. Nationalists are happy to arrange various national actions, displaying national symbols as much as possible.
Photo of Odessa.
But the advantage of Ukrainians is that they are sensitive to people who do not understand Ukrainian culture and react positively to these people. In every city in Ukraine there are nationalists actively involved in public positions. In southeastern Ukraine, such a minority, but they frighten the majority of the population.
If they find someone with a pro-Russian stance, then he will have a problem. In the best case, if it were a celebrity, he would be persecuted by slogans and actions such as: suitcases, Russian stations. "Although if you take the writer Buzina, who was shot dead in the center of Kiev, his killer was involved in the political life of Ukraine.
Unlike the Russians, Ukrainians are very united, and if someone needs help, they will help him, intercede, and avenge him.
There are many people in Ukraine who are indifferent to Ukrainian culture, symbols, etc. They have a good attitude towards everything in Ukraine, but they will not cause any joy either. But to avoid nationalist claims, they behaved "quieter than water, lower than grass" and often showed a good attitude toward Ukrainian reality.
Even in Crimea, I have repeatedly noticed people who openly oppose Putin's policies, do not recognize the unity of Crimea with the Russian Federation, and openly acknowledge their love of Ukraine and Ukrainian culture. These people work at universities, schools and elsewhere, and no one makes any claims against them or dismisses them. Russians are very tolerant of people with different political views and preferences.
In Ukraine, this is unthinkable. If a person is found in Ukraine condemning Maidan, he will not work in state institutions and may bring criminal charges against him.
In Ukraine, if someone is found condemning Ukrainian politics, he is at least listed on the Peacemaker website with his residential address and place of work. Usually these people are persecuted by local nationalists.
Ukrainian residents come to Crimea and openly say that Crimea is Ukraine. A friend of mine came to her apartment (she bought it in Ukraine) and hung a Ukrainian flag on the window. They looked at her like she was a "freak", but no one was aggressive with her.
Before the epidemic, Ukrainians actively came to Crimea, did not hide their negative views on Russia, painted stones in the color of the Ukrainian flag on the mountains, and hung flags, but the attitude towards them here was very tolerant.
Therefore, I believe that Ukrainian nationalists, because of their unity and aggressiveness, can impose their cultural and political views on others.
There are many Ukrainians of the "Caucasian nation" living in Ukraine. But these "proud" peoples were never able to resist the Ukrainian nationalists. If the "Caucasians" or some other ethnic diaspora begin to "swing" their rights, they will soon be "calmed down" by Ukrainian nationalists.
Unfortunately, in Ukraine, citizens are divided into real Ukrainians, not real Ukrainians. These were real radicals, somewhat similar to The German attack aircraft of Germany in the 30s, just wearing embroidered shirts.
Many Ukrainians try to look like "real" Ukrainians in order to avoid this claim of "real" Ukrainians, although deep down they may have other views ...
