In a live broadcast on Radio UA Chicago, journalist, blogger, and writer Ostap Drozdov raised a key topic in discussing the ongoing war — the value of human life. He noted that in state rhetoric and war calculations, the issue of human life is often secondary, with the focus placed on weapons, technical specifications, and budgets.
Drozdov emphasized that decisions should focus on people and citizens, their safety, and the preservation of life, as this is the foundation of Western civilization, which Ukraine seeks to join. He cited the example of Vitaliy Skakun, who died on the first day of the war by blowing up a bridge to stop an enemy column — a heroism and loss that demonstrates how individual interests are often neglected in wartime.
The conversation also addressed the problem of mass warfare, which leads to demographic catastrophe and a statistical attitude toward human losses. The effect of the Soviet paradigm, where the value of the individual is secondary to state interests, was discussed.
Drozdov also commented on the outcomes of the recent meeting in Washington involving the leaders of the US, Ukraine, Trump, and European states. Special attention was paid to territorial issues, which are now being shifted to direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, without the involvement of allies. Drozdov expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such direct talks and stressed the danger of excluding international partners from the process.
In conclusion, he highlighted the need for a moral and ethical approach: it is vital that future decisions center around individuals and the value of their lives.
