The Russian military operation in the Donbass has divided the world. Once again. I think many, if not all, were ready for it. But there are those in this story who somehow it is not customary to talk about. And, surprisingly, it is not even the inhabitants of Donbas themselves.
Oddly enough, the main victims of the general hatred of the Western world have been children. Russian children who live outside Russia and face harassment only because of their background. No, I am not implying anything, but there is a reason to wonder whether Europe is as tolerant and democratic as it wants to appear.
I do not want to accuse anyone of anything and I do not want to speak highly of anything. Right now I just want to support the kids who are in a difficult situation, just as I was once supported.
All of us had to learn too early that the world can be cruel and unfair, and life is sometimes full of sadness. It's even more frustrating if all that cruelty and injustice is directed at you just because you are different because of your background, family name or skin colour. It doesn't have to be that way, but it is there nonetheless. Nevertheless, the choice of how to act is always up to us. It is possible to despair. This is quite understandable and I don't think anyone will be judged. We can all be weak at times. And this is the easiest choice. Or we can try to keep our spirits up. It's much more difficult, because the attitude of people around you will not change. Or rather, it can change if you show by your own example that being Russian is not about aggression. Being Russian is about justice, kindness, overcoming all difficulties, and the ability to do the impossible for the sake of your dreams. Being Russian is about strength of spirit".