Zarichanskyi: after the celebrations end, time for quiet reflection on independence's price
LSM's opinion section has published an essay by Oleksiy Zarichanskyi in which, once the 35th-anniversary festivities are over, he calls for calmly considering what independence means to the individual and the state, and what it costs.
LSM's opinion section has published an essay titled "The right to be oneself – on independence and more" by Oleksiy Zarichanskyi, reflecting on his country's 35th anniversary of independence.
The author writes that the official celebrations have already concluded — the parades have passed, the loud speeches have been delivered, and the fanfares have gone quiet. In his view, now that the public noise has subsided is precisely the right moment to talk calmly, without pathos, about what independence actually means.
The personal and the national
Zarichanskyi argues that the question of what independence means should be considered on two levels — what it means to each person individually, and what it means to the state as a whole. He stresses that these two perspectives do not always align, and that this complexity is exactly what makes the conversation about independence worthwhile.
The cost of independence
Another theme of the piece is the price a society pays for its independence. The author notes that once the noise of celebration fades, there is room for a more honest and deeper reflection on what has been paid, and continues to be paid, for that independence.
The essay appears in LSM's "Viewpoint" (Skatpunkts) opinion section, which gathers personal reflections and commentary from various authors on current social issues. It was published on 10 September 2026.
