Paul Grod: The only thing modern Russia should be associated with is shame

Olga Mosyondz

ArmyInform correspondent

Today, as Russia attempts to celebrate “Victory Day” by appropriating historical events to promote a false narrative of Russian victory and honor, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) calls upon supporters of Ukraine worldwide to fill social media with photographic evidence of inhumane atrocities Russian military commits in Ukraine.

In honoring all those who sacrificed their lives for the free world during World War II, President of the Ukrainian World Congress, Paul Grod, notes that we must defeat all manifestations of Russian fascism and Nazism and resist Putin’s attempts to turn May 9th, historically marked as the day of victory over Nazism, into a celebration with St. George ribbons and bone dancing. After all, those who were among the victors of Nazism are now its leaders. 

We speak with Ukrainian World Congress President Paul Grod about the Russian Shame Day, organized by the Ukrainian World Congress, as well as support for Ukraine from abroad, cultural diplomacy, punishing Russia for its crimes in an international tribunal, and much more.

The only thing modern Russia should be associated with is shame for its aggression against Ukraine

– Mr. Grod, our conversation coincides with May 9, the day that Russians consider to be the day of their victory over Nazism. However, the world celebrates the Nazi surrender a day earlier, when Germany’s unconditional surrender entered into force. And, despite all the attempts of the Russian Federation to claim all the glory of victory, of course, everyone understands that Russia did not fight alone. In the context of current events – Russia’s war against Ukraine – the Ukrainian World Congress calls upon the world to support the Russian Shame Day campaign. Tell us about this campaign. How important is it for Ukraine?

– This is the second year in a row that we have organized the Russian Shame Day. After all, Russians worldwide celebrate “their” victory day as the world’s liberators. This is a great shame because the civilized world cannot allow the Russian Federation, which is committing genocide against the Ukrainian people, killing civilians, and committing war crimes on the territory of Ukraine, to present itself as a hero.

– Who has joined UWC’s Day of Russia’s Shame campaign, and what does it do? On May 9, Russians typically organize celebrations that have long been called “pobyedobesiya” [“victory madness]” 

– A global network of 65 countries has joined the Day of Russia’s Shame campaign. We want to spread the word about the war crimes: the atrocities committed by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine. We organize rallies, write appeals to elected and other government officials. We want the world to ban the rallies of the so-called “Immortal Regiment,” when Russians organize parades with St. George’s ribbons and Soviet flags, so that the world understands who actually liberated the world from Nazism, and who is actually trying to bring it and lead it today. After all, Russian disinformation is currently operating at full force, and it is quite powerful.

Truth is the most powerful weapon against Russian disinformation and propaganda

– Regarding Russian disinformation. How does the Ukrainian World Congress counter it?  

– With the truth. It is important to understand that one of the greatest threats facing Ukraine is the weakening of international support. The “Immortal Regiment” is Russian propaganda that misinforms the world and weakens that international support. That is why we are working to counter their propaganda. 

We have to understand that, in every country in the world, Russian propaganda exists at every level, and that it is very strong. Thus, we adapt our messaging for each country.

For example, in Europe, there are narratives like Russia attacked Ukraine because it is defending itself from NATO, which has expanded to Russia’s borders. Another message is that Russia is protecting Russian speakers in Ukraine. They also spread the narrative that Ukraine never existed as a country, that it was created by Russia, etc. We are debunking these messages, working with history departments in well-known educational institutions around the world so that people know the historical truth.

We also work to inform civil society about the genocide and atrocities that are happening today in Ukraine, and around the world, because of Russia. The truth is the most powerful weapon against Russian disinformation and propaganda.

Supporting our defenders is a top priority for the Ukrainian World Congress

– I know that the Ukrainian World Congress and you personally have been supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression since 2014, and that you have visited Ukraine numerous times to express your support for the country. How did you respond to Russia’s full-scale invasion?

– Supporting Ukraine in its fight for independence is extremely important to all Ukrainians around the world. UWC has supported Ukraine since long before independence, and from the first day of its declaration. I should note that the Ukrainian World Congress has existed for 55 years. Prior to Ukraine’s independence, we were known as the “World Congress of Free Ukrainians” and fought for Ukraine’s independence. Since then, we have supported Ukraine’s independence in many ways, including though they deployment of independent election observer missions to ensure that Ukrainians can express their will without external influence. We supported Ukraine during the Orange Revolution, and during the Revolution of Dignity. I spoke from the stage in 2014 to support Ukraine’s choice of European integration. In 2022, we supported Ukraine in every way possible: from volunteer support to political and financial support. Thanks to the activism of the Ukrainian community, Canada sent a large package of military assistance to Ukraine. Together with the Prime Minister of Canada, we travelled to Ukraine to support its new government. Since Russian aggression commenced in 2014, Canada has also assisted Ukraine through the training of its military. We had also been working to convey to the world that Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO.

So, we were somewhat ready for what Russia did in 2022. We had been preparing after eight years of war in eastern Ukraine. Yet, despite this, the whole world was shocked when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We worked to intensify the world’s support. Our first actions were political. At the outset, the UWC created the “United For Ukraine” fundraising platform, which brought together foundations from 70 countries. Initially, we supported the Anti-Terrorist Operation Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with equipment, ammunition and more. Now, we support the entire Armed Forces of Ukraine. In other words, supporting Ukrainian defenders was and is our first priority.

Next is the financial component. We know that Ukraine has a monthly budget deficit, and we are trying to convey to world governments that this deficit needs to be covered.

Another goal of ours is to support displaced persons. When Russia’s full-scale aggression began, I and the UWC team, together with community leaders and politicians from the United States, were on the Ukrainian-Polish border. We demanded that the government of Poland, as well as the governments of Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and those of all countries of the world, open their doors to Ukrainians, and ensure decent living conditions for them. Currently, displaced persons from Ukraine are welcome all over the world, and our Ukrainian organizations help them with employment and social security. We also organize summer youth camps so that the displaced persons feel at home, and for the youth to make the most of their lives. Our goal is to do everything we can to make Ukrainians feel at home, preserve their Ukrainian identity, and receive the rehabilitation they need after experiencing what they have.

After war broke out, I travelled to Ukraine with the UWC First Vice President in March, 2022, where we held meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dmytro Kuleba, and with military leaders and volunteers to discuss Ukraine’s needs.

Thus, UWC is focused on supporting Ukraine politically, militarily and financially, with a particular focus on displaced persons. Ukrainians around the world have and continue to accept displaced persons as family members, to support and nurture their Ukrainian identity, so that they do not assimilate in the countries where they reside, but instead preserve their culture and raise their children to be the Ukrainians who will return and rebuild Ukraine.

We are creating Ukrainian centres so that Ukrainians do not assimilate into a “Russian world” but join the “Ukrainian world” instead

– Many countries are now talking about plans to support Ukraine after its victory. Does UWC have a post-war strategy?

– Of course, we are already making plans to help rebuild Ukraine. We have created a platform to help rebuild Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. We are working with energy equipment manufacturers, and governments, too. We are establishing funds to rebuild Ukraine.

– How has the world’s perception of Ukraine changed since February 24, 2022? How does cultural diplomacy influence the world’s support for Ukraine? 

– We can see how some Russian-speaking Ukrainians seek to create a “Russian world” around them abroad. In its place, we have created the concept of the “Ukrainian world” so that Ukrainians can participate in Ukrainian cultural life; we’re organizing youth movements and centres of Ukrainian life so that Ukrainians do not assimilate into the “Russian world,” but instead become part of the Ukrainian world and Ukrainian culture. We need to drive the Russian world as far away from us as possible.

All criminals – from Putin and Lavrov to the Russian soldiers who committed war crimes in Ukraine – will face international justice

– The crimes committed by the Russian Federation in the Ukrainian cities of Bucha, Irpen, Izyum and many others made the entire civilized world shudder in horror. As a lawyer by training, do you see the possibility of creating a legal mechanism to to hold Russia accountable for these crimes?

– We call on all civilized countries to create an international tribunal to hold Russia to account for the crimes its military has committed against Ukrainians. A month and a half ago, we participated in a conference on war crimes and human rights violations at the United Nations, organized by the Ukrainian mission to the UN, headed by Ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsya. We have helped establish the legal basis and political framework at the UN to establish an international tribunal to convict all Russian criminals, from Putin, who ordered the crime of aggression against Ukraine, to Lavrov, to all those who carried out those criminal orders and brought those horrors to Ukrainian soil, including looting, torture, rape, murder of civilians, women and children. Sooner or later, they will be punished for all of these crimes.

Global political support for Ukraine begins with support for civil society

– Regarding the United Nations: Russia is currently still a member of the UN Security Council. Is it possible to condemn the crimes of the Russian Federation while the perpetrator, Russia, remains a member of international organizations?

– Expelling Russia from international organizations is a rather complicated process. The UN sees that the Security Council has lost all its credibility. As long as Russia is a member of the UN Security Council, the latter will never be effective. Therefore, a new Security Council organization should be created. We must also convict the Wagnerites, and all of the Russian criminals who have committed crimes in Ukraine, in the International Criminal Court. All countries must agree that these criminals are undesirable people everywhere in the world. We also have to work with Asia, Africa, and South America, where Ukrainian communities do exist, so that their countries do not support Russia. We operate in the political realm so that these countries do not support the Russian economy. Our cultural diplomacy is aimed at ensuring that civil society in different countries is aware of who Ukrainians are, and that they support them. Political support begins with support from civil society: if a society supports Ukraine, it exerts pressure on its government, and then its politicians provide military support to Ukraine. We also raise funds to provide Ukrainian defenders with the weapons they need to repel Russian aggression.

It is not enough for Russia to merely take Crimea; it wants to revive its empire

– How do you see Ukraine’s victory? 

– We support the President of Ukraine’s policy of returning to the country’s 1991 borders that were recognized by the entire world following the declaration of Ukraine’s Independence. We understand that we need to make every effort to ensure that the world understands why this is important. After all, Russia is actively promoting the disinformation narrative that, if the Russians are left to stay in Crimea, then they will stop fighting, and peace will reign. But we all understand from the historical experience of coexistence with Russia that they will not stop there. It is not enough for them to merely take Crimea, Russia wants to revive its empire.

The second important consideration is to de-occupy all of the territories seized by Russia, because we know that the people who currently living under occupation are essentially living in concentration camps, where there is torture, rape, abuse, robbery… We must support these people.

We must prepared that Russia will try to seize our land again and again

– What about the viewpoint that victory and a peaceful future for Ukraine are only possible if Russia collapses. Do you support this thesis?

– Currently, we cannot say whether Russia will disintegrate after our victory, or not. But we have to be prepared for the fact that we will have to fight with Russia for many years, decades, even centuries, to come. The fact of the matter is that Russia will try to seize our land again and again, and enslave our people, in whatever form that may take. That much is obvious from historical experience.

That is why it is important for the global Ukrainian Diaspora to stay strong. For it is only together, only with the strong support of Ukrainians abroad, that Ukraine will enjoy the entire world’s support, and be successful in resisting and winning.

A strong Diaspora means strong international support, and therefore invincible Ukraine

– I know that you have visited our defenders many times, and that you have honoured the memories of the fallen among them in the Hall of Memory… What does speaking with Ukraine’s defenders mean to you personally? What would you wish for those who are fighting for our land against the Russian occupiers, as well as for all Ukrainians in general?

– I wish to tell the Ukrainians on the front lines, many of whom I have spoken to on numerous occasions, that we are enormously grateful for their defense of Ukraine. Thanks to their strength and heroism, we shall survive and overcome. Together, we will rebuild Ukraine. We will turn it into the powerful state our forebearers dreamed of building. We stand with you until victory, and we will stand with you after it has been achieved.

To the Ukrainians displaced by war, I bid you to not forget that you are Ukrainians. Keep together, sign your children up to Ukrainian youth organization and schools, and cherish the Ukrainian language and culture. Do not assimilate, because a mighty Diaspora means strong international support, and therefore a strong and invincible Ukraine.