April 17, 2022

The Spirit of Maidan


The Spirit of Maidan
A man bearing the Ukrainian flag during the Maidan protests. Image courtesy spoilt.exile

The resistance demonstrated by Ukrainians in their fight against the Russian invasion is nothing new. It echoes the 2014 Maidan uprising, a tumultuous turning point for Ukrainian politics that simultaneously solidified Ukrainian ideals while also raising Kremlin concerns.

When Ukrainian President Yanukovych reneged on his promise to initiate Ukraine's association agreement with the EU, Ukrainians came out in force to protest. Protests centered on Maidan ("Freedom") Square.

In the 2015 documentary, Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom, we get an up-close look at the Ukrainian struggle against authoritarian power and Russian influence. The documentary follows the protests for 93 days and shows how what began as peaceful demonstrations with a festive atmosphere later devolved into a bloody battleground when government forces showed unexpected and naked brutality.

The film shows how the protest stretched from days into months and the peaceful demonstrations turned into a battle between Berkut forces (Ukrainian riot police) and protesters. The events that unfold are at times unbelievable. The director, Evgeny Afineevsky, takes viewers directly into the crowds, balancing extensive footage of clashes with interviews, including with journalist Mustafa Nayyem, who put the initial call out on Facebook for people to gather on Maidan Square on November 13.

There is considerable humanity shown in the film, as we learn about the experiences of people during Maidan, their thoughts on their fight for freedom, and see them put their heart into the protests. When the Berkut switches from rubber bullets to real ones, it becomes clear that the government will do absolutely anything to protect itself.

Even with the extreme brutality of the government forces, the Maidan protests were a success: in the middle of the night on February 22, 2014, president Yanukovich fled Ukraine.

Maidan succeeded: the president was ousted, there were new, democratic elections, and the EU agreement was signed. But the successes were bittersweet. While the Western-leaning protests were succeeding in some parts of the country, the eastern regions saw a growth in pro-Russian movements. These movements would later devolve into conflict, and a few weeks after Yanukovich fled, Russian forces invaded Crimea and Russia later annexed the territory (which annexation has not been recognized internationally).

While the film does have some problems, including the exclusion of nationalistic rhetoric, the viewer does get an intimate view of the heady days of a revolution, and the power that can come out of a united group of people. As we continue to watch the invasion unfold in Ukraine today and hear stories of the Ukrainian people and military standing against the might of a global power, remembering Maidan can raise hopes that Ukraine will be able to resist its invaders and be the free nation it so wishes to be.

You Might Also Like

  • December 16, 2020

"Map of Resistance" in St. Petersburg

“Not working at all is death… The authorities chose a blow worse than a lockdown. Any sane person understands that the coronavirus is terrible. But this does not mean that the coronavirus should kill an industry to the point that it cannot be restored in any way.” - Alexander Konovalov, organizer of the “Map of Resistance,” a group of bars and restaurants in St. Petersburg that plan to defy new coronavirus restrictions calling to close all bars and restaurants from December 30 through January 3
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Moscow Eccentric

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.
White Magic

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.
Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

Steppe / Степь (bilingual)

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 
Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955