If for Western Europe the end of the war meant the victory of democracy, for Ukraine it meant the enforcement of Stalinism. Traces of Soviet occupation still affect Ukraine, a country which during World War II was, in the words of Yaroslav Hrytsak, “in the heart of darkness.” with Ukrainians fighting against Ukrainians for the interests of occupying forces and, along with Poland, suffering the heaviest human losses of the war.
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Bohdan Ben: ‘Victory Day’ was ‘Occupation Day’ for western Ukraine and half of Europe
Municipal guards lay flowers at the Monument of unknown soldier in Slavy Park on the May 8, 2021.
