Our assembly this week marked an important and difficult anniversary, in that it is now three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The invasion began on February 24, 2022.

This war has caused immense suffering, displacement, and loss. Some of you may have personal connections to what has happened - perhaps you have family or friends who have been affected, or maybe you yourself have had to leave your home because of the war.

Why Did Russia Invade Ukraine?

Ukraine was once part of the Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1991. After gaining independence, Ukraine chose to move towards democracy and build stronger ties with Europe and the West, something that Russia’s government, led by Vladimir Putin, strongly opposed.


For years, Russia has claimed that Ukraine belongs within its sphere of influence and has sought to control its future. In 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea, a region of Ukraine, and supported separatist movements in the east of the country. In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion, claiming it was to "protect" Russian-speaking people in Ukraine and to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO—a military alliance of Western countries.


But this invasion was not just about protecting Russian speakers or NATO. It was about power. It was about trying to control a neighbouring country that wanted to decide its own future. It was about challenging democracy and showing that large, powerful countries could redraw borders by force.


What happens in Ukraine matters far beyond its borders. It has reshaped global alliances, changed how countries think about security, and reminded the world that democracy is something that must be protected.

What’s in a name? 

The name "Ukraine" is more than just a geographical label—it symbolises self-determination, identity, and resistance. In 1993, Ukraine officially asked the world to refer to it as "Ukraine" instead of "the Ukraine", as the latter suggests it is just a region rather than a sovereign nation. The ongoing war has reinforced the importance of Ukraine’s name and its right to define itself, rather than being seen as part of another empire’s "borderland.”

Since the invasion, thousands of Russians have been arrested for protesting against their government. Many have fled the country to avoid being conscripted into the army. Others have spoken out, despite the risks, against a war they believe is unjust. Russian soldiers, many of them young and poorly trained, have been sent into battle without understanding what they are fighting for. Meanwhile, economic sanctions from Western countries have hurt ordinary Russian citizens. The cost of living has risen, businesses have shut down, and many people have lost jobs.

But despite the difficulties, the Russian government continues to push forward, silencing opposition and controlling information. This reminds us that not all Russians are the same as their government, just as not all people should be judged by the actions of their leaders. When we ask ‘what’s in a name’ and consider the names we give ourselves as citizens of a nation, we should remind ourselves that the name of our nationality does not define us and does not align us with anyone else’s views by default.

- People who speak out against the war, like journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who protested on live TV, risk losing their freedom because their names become linked with resistance.
- Yelena Osipova, an elderly artist, has been arrested multiple times for holding anti-war signs. She refuses to be silenced because her name is her legacy of truth.
- Masha Moskalyova, a 12-year-old girl, drew an anti-war picture at school. Because of this, her father was arrested, and she was taken away from him. Her name now represents the bravery of children who stand up for peace.

Ukraine’s response to the invasion has been a beacon of hope to the world. The name Ukraine is now synonymous with courage and resilience. Ukrainian citizens have defended their country with extraordinary courage. Families have rebuilt their lives, even after losing everything.

However, what we don’t see on the news is the day-to-day, on-the-ground situation for Ukrainians. In the beginning, we saw footage of war torn towns and cities, and watched as families from all over the world welcome new friends into their homes to help them flee the danger. We have students and families in our community who have been forced to begin new lives here, in Aylsham, with us.
 
In Ukraine, daily life looks completely different. This is an account from Mrs Dniprovska, our maths specialist LSA, who wanted you to know about the everyday lives of people in her country.

Although Russia claims that it is only targeting Ukraine’s military facilities, according to UNICEF average of at least 16 children are killed or injured every week due to ongoing attacks. 

The war against Ukraine is not happening purely on the frontline, it affects the daily life of the millions of civilians. When Russia launches a drone, a missile or a combined attack, the air raid sirens go off in the targeted regions urging people to hide in the shelters. If at this moment you’re at a supermarket, café, bank, theatre, city council, dance class, swimming pool or gym, at the doctor’s appointment, they will stop working and you will be asked to go to the shelter. If you’re at your school desk or enjoying your lunch break on a school playground, students and staff will pack and go to the basement to hide. As this happens quite often, sometimes two or three times a day, children will spend hours and hours studying in the shelters. Sometimes the air raid might be on for 6 or 7 hours in a row.

Since the capacity of the basements is limited, schools have long resorted to drastic measures – split students into groups that come to school on a certain rota. For example, some are studying one week offline and the next online similarly to covid times. Some study only core subjects in school in the morning and the rest online in the afternoon, swapping with the next group, who come to study core subjects in the afternoon having done the rest online in the morning. Confusing, isn’t it? Imagine being a parent who have children in different groups like my cousin. Some schools simply do not have shelters and can only provide education online. The schools in Kharkiv, which is only 18 miles from the border with Russia, are banned to teach children in regular schools and in 2023 the first fully underground school opened there.

On top of everything, there are drone and missile attacks happening at night or at dawn and many children in Ukraine have long got used to sleeping in the baths instead of their beds as four walls of the bathrooms are supposed to protect them against shattered glass and other debris if a drone or a rocket is shot down close to their homes. Unfortunately, if the drone or a missile is not intercepted and hits the building, just the lucky few might survive. Some parents take their children to sleep in the shelters or in the underground stations. However, after three years many people are exhausted and choose to sleep at home with bathroom or the corridor being the only places to hide. One can only imagine how tired people, especially children are in the morning after the night of no or very little sleep. However, it is never an excuse to skip school or work the morning after.

One of the first things Russians do when they occupy a Ukrainian city or village is seize Ukrainian books from libraries and schools and burn them, especially the history books, textbooks on Ukrainian language and literature. They introduce new history books that justify Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine as a legitimate act of self-defence. Last year Russia wiped out one of the Ukraine’s largest book printing houses in a missile attack. 

During the war, Russia has forcibly transferred almost 20 thousand Ukrainian children to areas under its control, assigned them Russian citizenship and forcibly adopted them into Russian families. An estimated 6,000 Ukrainian children have been relocated to a network of re-education camps in an attempt to erase Ukrainian cultural and national identity.

Resilience is not just about war. It’s something that applies to all of us. We all face challenges—whether that’s struggling with schoolwork, dealing with loss, or facing difficult situations at home. But history, and the stories of those who have endured hardship, teach us that even in the darkest times, we can find strength.

Hope is powerful. It is what drives people to keep going, to rebuild, to look for peace instead of war, and to believe in a better future. Even small acts of kindness can be an act of resilience.

While we cannot change the past, we can shape the future. Resilience and hope are not just ideas; they are actions. Today, let’s commit to being people who don’t give up in the face of difficulty, who support each other, and who show compassion to those who are struggling. In doing so, we can align ourselves with those who are fighting against all wars of oppression.