In Memory of Pavel Sheremet

One year ago, John Herbst said that the ongoing war in Ukraine was a battle between the past and the future, which meant that the latter would certainly win. Unfortunately, the outcome is not so clear anymore. It seems that instead this is a battle between the world of free people and a totalitarian dystopia.

The “Modern Middle Ages”, with fanaticism and superstition dominating knowledge and the search for the truth, are increasingly a threat the world over. Despite unprecedented access to information and technology, many are not willing or are not able to learn, think and explore the details of the problems they face. Many are not ready to make decisions and take responsibility for them. Indeed, it is easy to divide the world into “us” and “them” and blame the latter for all misfortunes.

This is why it is so important to be able to explain complex phenomena in simple words, to avoid having a black-and-white worldview, and to create and communicate an accurate depiction of the true state of affairs. Pavel Sheremet knew perfectly well how to do that, and he worked to this end until his last breath. With his words, he restrained the onslaught of the darkness, just as the Ukrainian military holds it in check in the East of Ukraine.

In memory of him, and of all those who have died and continue dying in this war, and above all, for the sake of those alive, we have no right to retreat. Depending on all those who are armed with words is the question of whether a modern Enlightenment will follow the modern Middle Ages.

The VoxUkraine team express our sincere condolences to all the family and friends of the deceased.

Tymofiy Mylovanov
Ilona Sologoub
Nataliia Shapoval
Oleksandr Zholud
Olena Nizalova
Alex Nikolsko-Rzhevskyy
Volodymyr Bilotkach
Rostyslav Averchuk
Olena Bilan
Oleksandr Talavera
Yuriy Gorodnichenko
Zoya Mylovanova
Denys Nizalov
Borys Davydenko
Vita Faychuk
Kseniya Alekankina
and Volodymyr Kadygrob