Wood Against A Machine Gun Steel - February 20th 2026

February 20th 2026

Yuriy reflects on Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, honoring protesters killed during the February 2014 shootings in Kyiv and describing them as the first victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war, driven by Kremlin pressure on Yanukovych’s regime and propaganda portraying protesters as Nazis and criminals. Recounting what he witnessed during the confrontation, he frames the uprising as a pivotal victory for Ukraine’s freedom—comparable to foundational historical turning points—and vows that despite the ongoing, exhausting war and terror, Ukraine will not return to dictatorship or surrender.

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TRANSCRIPT: (Apple Podcasts & Podbean app users can enjoy accurate closed captions) 

It is February 20.

Today is one of the most important commemorative days in Ukraine's history- the day of Remembrance of Heroes of Heavenly Hundred. This day owners was who killed 12 years ago in February 2014, during the shooting of protesters who were opposing the corrupt gangster-like regime of President Yanukovych. Many of us did not realize it at that time, but the, the, the first victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Even if the bullets that killed dozens of people in central Kyiv were fired by Ukrainian police, it was done in the interest of the Russian authorities under their pressure and above all for their sake. The Kremlin needed not only to keep Ukraine within its sphere of influence, but also to keep Ukrainians in subjugation, denying them the ability to choose their own future.

What is why Russia pushed the dim-witted pitiful Yanukovych to use firearms against peaceful protestors; that is why it urgently sent it advisors to Kyiv who directed the actions of the security forces and what is why it unleashed a frenzied propaganda campaign to discredit the protestors, portraying them all as Nazis and criminals. Incidentally, this is how Russian media now portray all Ukrainians.

I was in central Kyiv throughout all the days of a bloody confrontation. Before my eyes people were being killed, people who walked toward machine guns trying to protect themselves from them with makeshift wooden shields. Wood against a machine gun steel. And we would won. The vast apparatus of killing and coercion, lavishly, greased with Russian money and fueled by hatred of freedom broke against people in hockey helmets whose most dangerous weapons were Molotov of cocktails. The regime of a stupid sadist Yanukovych built on corruption and intimidation on handouts from Moscow and total lies collapsed. It was a great victory. Yes, in many ways it was symbolic, only the beginning of a confrontation, but continues to this day- but it was an immensely important symbol.

For me The Day of Remembrance of The heroes of the Heavenly Hundred stands alongside the signing of a Declaration of Independence or the adoption of Magna Carta. Yes, those events were not unambiguous instant victories; much more blood was shed and much pain endured afterward. But we became turning points after which a return to dictatorship was no longer imaginable. Well, at least until recently.

Back then, 12 years ago, we all changed Ukraine chose freedom, from which our deranged neighbor so desperately refuses to let us go, but we will not return to the Gulag, we will not surrender. It is very hard and cold, now physically and psychologically exhausting. Yet the path to freedom that began in February 2014 will be carried through to the end. We are living in terrible times. More horrifying than one could invent, but freedom will prevail. It must; it simply has to prevail.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
It is February 20.
Today is one of the most importantcommemorative days in Ukraine's
history- the day of Remembranceof Heroes of Heavenly Hundred.
This day owners was who killed 12years ago in February 2014, during
the shooting of protesters who wereopposing the corrupt gangster-like

(00:27):
regime of President Yanukovych.
Many of us did not realize it atthat time, but the, the, the first
victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Even if the bullets that killeddozens of people in central Kyiv
were fired by Ukrainian police,it was done in the interest of the

(00:49):
Russian authorities under theirpressure and above all for their sake.
The Kremlin needed not only tokeep Ukraine within its sphere of
influence, but also to keep Ukrainiansin subjugation, denying them the
ability to choose their own future.
What is why Russia pushed the dim-wittedpitiful Yanukovych to use firearms

(01:15):
against peaceful protestors; that iswhy it urgently sent it advisors to
Kyiv who directed the actions of thesecurity forces and what is why it
unleashed a frenzied propaganda campaignto discredit the protestors, portraying
them all as Nazis and criminals.
Incidentally, this is how Russianmedia now portray all Ukrainians.

(01:39):
I was in central Kyiv throughout allthe days of a bloody confrontation.
Before my eyes people were being killed,people who walked toward machine guns
trying to protect themselves fromthem with makeshift wooden shields.
Wood against a machine gun steel.
And we would won.
The vast apparatus of killing andcoercion, lavishly, greased with

(02:03):
Russian money and fueled by hatredof freedom broke against people in
hockey helmets whose most dangerousweapons were Molotov of cocktails.
The regime of a stupid sadistYanukovych built on corruption
and intimidation on handouts fromMoscow and total lies collapsed.

(02:23):
It was a great victory.
Yes, in many ways it was symbolic,only the beginning of a confrontation,
but continues to this day- but itwas an immensely important symbol.
For me The Day of Remembrance ofThe heroes of the Heavenly Hundred
stands alongside the signing ofa Declaration of Independence

(02:44):
or the adoption of Magna Carta.
Yes, those events were not unambiguousinstant victories; much more blood was
shed and much pain endured afterward.
But we became turning points afterwhich a return to dictatorship
was no longer imaginable.
Well, at least until recently.
Back then, 12 years ago, we all changedUkraine chose freedom, from which our

(03:10):
deranged neighbor so desperately refusesto let us go, but we will not return
to the Gulag, we will not surrender.
It is very hard and cold, now physicallyand psychologically exhausting.
Yet the path to freedom thatbegan in February 2014 will
be carried through to the end.
We are living in terrible times.

(03:31):
More horrifying than one couldinvent, but freedom will prevail.
It must; it simply has to prevail.