Russians have yet to learn that the universe never rewards cowardice, never rewards bowing and scraping before an oppressor.
As Churchill said, in 1940...
'Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured. But I fear greatly that the storm will not pass.'
There is a dignity and a grace in choosing even to die on one's feet, rather than to live on one's knees.
An enemy can only kill you; and death is not that hard on one's own beautiful land and under one's own beautiful skies - and it is actually not that hard to die for the freedom of one's people.
When death comes, I hope that I will be able to throw open my arms and welcome it.
(Image - the river near my home in Kherson, in autumn).