- Acclaimed journalist and Global Affairs Editor at the ABC, John Lyons, with help from his wife Sylvie Le Clezio, a documentary filmmaker, has written an absorbing story of the Ukrainian people's defence of their nation against Russia's aggression for over three years now.
- As with his previous book, the fascinating Balcony Over Jerusalem, Lyons' ability to write clear, lucid prose totally engages the reader. He delves deep into the lives of ordinary citizens and their courage and dedication to saving their nation. They are living relatively normal lives despite the bombing, but they are volunteering for all sorts of jobs and activities to aid the war effort. What we are witnessing is 'the rebirth of the Ukrainian identity' as one woman says. And as a Sydney academic says ‘Whether formal or informal, volunteering contributes to the creation of new norms and values of citizenship in Ukraine…strengthening the social fabric’.
- We're immersed in the richness of Ukrainian culture, society and economy. Surrogacy is a big industry in Ukraine, and was severely disrupted by Russia's relentless aggression. As were medical operations such as cancer treatment. Electricity and gas were out and hospitals bombed. Prosthetics availability ended and mental health programs brought to an end.
- The Ukrainians are very concerned about their children. Eight year old Yegor wrote a diary. It is full of sadness, gentleness and generosity. The Russian soldiers would kidnap the children and try to indoctrinate them. Others were maimed and killed. Witnessing this Lyons virtually screams ‘Russia is the aggressor. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia continues to launch attacks. Ukraine is the victim’. Russia now holds nearly 20% of Ukraine's territory.
- Ukraine has strengths though. For instance The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) are experts at resistance to Russian cyber attacks. Cyber security is the new space race, and Ukraine is leading the way. Drones (as we saw just a few days ago) are constructed by dedicated engineers and volunteers working day and night, and they are critical to its defence.
- Lyons tells the story of Volodymyr Zelensky, a former actor and comedian. From playing the president in a TV series to being elected as the real one. Although his first two years as a politician were ordinary and disorganised, he eventually emerged as the leader of the moment, and has virtually total support from the Ukrainian people. His communication and oratorical skills are helping enormously.
- As for Vladimir Putin, ‘...a system of permanent lies permeates all levels of power’ in the Russia he has created, as one academic says. 'Through his propaganda, political power and physical property, Putin has made himself untouchable'. According to him 'Ukraine is not a real country'.
- As Lyons reflects on Trump's 'contribution' he can't help but be pessimistic, and concludes that Ukraine is slowly losing this war. ‘…the US has gone deliberately slow on delivery of weapons’. Biden also slowed support, ‘…more scared of a Russian defeat than a Ukrainian defeat’. What we are witnessing is a major strategic failure by America and NATO. They are not providing enough weapons systems such as missiles, tanks and aircraft (as EU leaders recently recognised). This has to change, and dramatically, to turn the tide in Ukraine's favour. As for the nuclear threat, Putin knows NATO would respond dramatically, so is obviously hesitant to pursue that option.
- Lyons closes the book on a more optimistic level. He meets a young man in Lithuania who proclaims that despite the fact that Russia has become a ruthless, brutal machine, the people of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are now supportive of NATO. ‘NATO is what stands between us and torture’.
- John Lyons has written a clearly argued and frequently passionate treatise on Ukraine's dramatic predicament. I found it very persuasive indeed. It's a must read.