I have been 100% onboard with the desire to see peace through the Minsk Accords, or their forceful substitute, until yesterday. Until then I considered Vladimir Putin to be the sanest and most rational political figure on the world’s stage. As of now, my trust in his rational decision making has been reduced to ZERO. While I understand the background and history of what has been happening between Russia and NATO for the last 30+ years, yesterday’s escalation in size and scope has been utterly disproportionate, reckless, and dangerous. Growing up in the USSR, I lived in both, Ukraine and Russia. I understand profoundly Russo-Ukrainian culture, which is the most of Ukraine. I opposed the 2014 coup d’état, war in Donbas and supported Minsk Accords. Ukraine, goaded by the West, failed not only to implement the accords, but made things progressively worse. Even worse, it begged to be an American puppet state. I understand why the country got to where it was yesterday. Had Russia engaged in peace keeping operation in Donbas as in effect to fulfill the Minsk Accords, I would have been 100% supportive. However, this is not what happened yesterday. What happened yesterday left me in the neutral territory from where I see no escape. How does it end? How does Putin pacify central Ukraine (where I am from), let alone the West? What is the escape route, what is the solution? I am despondent. For years I have been trying to reconcile my nationalist and separatist friends. Where does one go from here? Do I condemn my nationalist friends for engaging in a partisan warfare, turning the country into another Vietnam? Or do I congratulate my separatist friends for their chance to avenge? I can’t do both or either. Russia’s yesterday decision to start such an extensive conflict leaves me with no answer, other than anger at the apparent loss of the moral compass by Vladimir Putin, which might very well turn out to be a curse for the Russian nation for years to come.