I mean, Euromaidan was hardly "non-violent", although one side was definitely more guilty than the other. Also it literally triggered a Russian invasion that Ukraine had to fight off to a stalemate, that then flared up into a full scale war less than a decade later. Not exactly the poster child of a "pacifist" movement.
It wasn't neccessarily non-violent, no. Of course. But the protesters never went out with the direct aim of using violence, they defended themselves against the copious violence of the state.
I also wouldn't agree with the argument that it triggered the Russian invasion - The Russian invasion happened because Ukraine got rid of the Russian puppet of a president. I don't think that's a failure of the protestors. If anything, it's a failure of the rest of Europe that allowed Russia to act like this and tried to normalize that insanity. The sad sack of useless shit I have to call my president nowadays, Steinmeier, most of all.
I also wouldn't agree with the argument that it triggered the Russian invasion - The Russian invasion happened because Ukraine got rid of the Russian puppet of a president. I don't think that's a failure of the protestors.
Oh I don't blame the protesters for that one bit, that's entirely Russia's fault. But still, the invasion happened as a result of the overthrowing of the government via the Euromaidan movement, and Ukraine had to respond with military action in kind. Self-defence is morally fine, but it's not pacifism.
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u/fukingtrsh Jul 28 '26
All important shopping is done online for a reason, pacifism won't work and never has.