Solidarity with Ukraine!

Ukraine is the victim of Putin’s murderous, Russian-imperialist aggression. Ukraine is right to fight to defend its democracy and its right to self-determination. The international left and labour movement has an obligation to make solidarity with Ukraine.

The full-scale war which began two years ago, on 24 February 2022, has led to 22,000 civilian deaths. 5.1mn people are internally displaced. 6.2mn have fled Ukraine.

The US suggested that by summer 2023 the total number of deaths, on both sides, amounted to around 500,000. A staggering waste of life.

18% of Ukraine is still occupied by Russia. In the occupied areas Russia has abolished elected authorities, arrested and tortured many hundreds of anti-occupation activists, kidnapped Ukrainian children, and driven trade union organisation and political opposition underground.

The current estimate is that rebuilding Ukraine will cost $500bn. In Ukraine 20% are unemployed and GDP is 25% lower than before the invasion of February 2022.

Within Ukraine the class struggle continues, of course. Endemic corruption impedes the war effort and official politics is dominated by pro-capitalist parties.

Class

Ukraine’s working class, elderly and the poor are impacted most by the invasion and Ukrainian government policies.

The rich have money to bribe their way out of armed service, and find it easier to go abroad. The government aims to reform the Labour Code to allow longer hours at work, shorter holidays, and to make it easier for bosses to sack workers.

Viktoriia Pihul from the Ukrainian socialist organisation Sotsialnyi Rukh (Social Movement) argues that the government’s priorities are unfair and damage the war effort. “Wealth that exceeds the norm needed for a decent life should be confiscated. Progressive taxation should be introduced.”

Workers’ Liberty stands with Ukraine against Russian occupation and terror, and with the Ukrainian workers against the Ukrainian oligarchs and capitalist politicians.

In the UK we fight for the rights of refugees from Ukraine. We demand Ukrainians in the UK should be fully supported by the British state and integrated into the British trade unions. Following the 2023 TUC Congress the British union movement is now committed to make solidarity with Ukraine.

Workers’ Liberty stands for international workers’ unity.

Join us and fight for Ukraine! Fight for democracy and workers’ power!