OPINION: Letting Russia Keep Occupied Territory Is Tacit Approval of Genocide

Letting Russia keep parts of Ukrainian territory would mean genocide for the Ukrainian people.

Some believe that when a country is occupied, life can continue peacefully under a different flag — that people will simply pay taxes to a new government. But that’s a dangerous illusion.

Very often, so-called “peace” is followed by genocide at the hands of the occupier. History offers many examples. One of them was shared with me by a friend, Volodymyr Kukharenko — a tragic story about the Moriori people.

Here’s a quick recap: In 1835, a ship carrying Maori warriors landed on an island inhabited by the Moriori — a peaceful people who had lived without war for centuries. Instead of resisting, the Moriori welcomed the Maori, hoping to coexist and share the island’s resources.

The result? The Maori hunted the Moriori like animals. Most were killed. Some were eaten. Others were enslaved. The Moriori were forced to abandon their language. Their sacred places were desecrated and turned into toilets. This wasn’t the Middle Ages — this happened in the mid-19th century.

If you think something like that couldn’t happen in Europe today, remember what happened to Ukraine after it lost the war to russia in 1919 and was absorbed into the Soviet Union.

That so-called “peace” brought only suffering. In 1933, up to 7 million Ukrainians were starved to death in the Holodomor genocide — their food taken away. In 1937, most Ukrainian scientists, writers, artists, and poets were executed. The Ukrainian language was banned.

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You Realize How Valuable Life Is When Death Feels Possible Every Day

In wartime Lviv, a punk and hardcore concert becomes both a space for solidarity and a fundraiser for Ukraine’s military. Through the voices of musicians and organizers – some performing, others serving on the front line – young Ukrainians do their best to cope with daily life in wartime, even as Russian attacks remain a constant threat.

Even now, in Russia-occupied areas, speaking Ukrainian can get you into serious trouble. In Bucha, russian forces executed teachers of history and Ukrainian literature. When invaders come, war is often safer than their “peace,” because fewer people die. And dying while fighting makes more sense than being slaughtered like cattle in the dead of night by an occupying regime.

That’s why Ukraine is still fighting.

When people suggest negotiating with Russia, they either don’t understand — or don’t care — about the millions of lives they’re putting at risk. This isn’t just about territory. It’s about the fate of the people who live there.

Russia must not be rewarded for its genocide against the Ukrainian people. You cannot stop aggression by indulging it.

The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.