War and will: how the “Second Maidan” struck the first but failed to break it

The previous post about the “five billion dollars allegedly spent on Maidan” sparked a discussion. Many wondered: Where did the money go? Who received it? Did it even exist at all? But the post wasn’t really about the money. The conversation needs a logical continuation because the history of Maidan and its consequences run much deeper than they may seem at first glance.

After Maidan 2014, many hoped that Ukraine would change forever. But then the war began, and people were forced to shift their focus from fighting for their rights. This was when the “second/other Maidan” – the one built on oligarchic and bureaucratic interests – began striking with the precision of an experienced boxer. It redirected Ukrainians’ psychological perception, pulling them back into the old pre-Maidan system.

There were many such blows, but I want to highlight two of them.

The first came in August 2015, when Parliament voted on constitutional amendments granting special status to the so-called “DPR” and “LPR.” A tragic incident occurred outside the parliament building: a grenade was thrown, killing National Guardsmen who were protecting the Rada. The real perpetrators are still freely appearing on TV, while the person officially blamed for the attack was killed eight years later – allegedly during an escape attempt from court. After this, people became afraid to protest, and Maidan activists and volunteers were increasingly marginalized in the media.

The second blow came nearly three years later. The former “Berkut” – by then renamed the Special Police Regiment – brutally cracked down on veterans during an anti-corruption protest on Hrushevskyi Street. This was a clear signal: the system had restored itself and was no longer afraid to use its old methods. (The photo in the original post is from that very event – though many sincerely believe it’s from 2014.)

Between these two events, a massive campaign unfolded to discredit volunteers, who had been true heroes at the beginning of the war. Many were imprisoned in an attempt to break the spirit of a free society. This strongly resembled Putin’s so-called “denazification” in 2022.

But the events of February 2022 proved that it was too soon to bury free citizens. To the great surprise of both Russian occupiers and the “other Maidan,” people once again rose up to fight for their country. They proved that the will to be free cannot be destroyed. Like a sprout breaking through asphalt, Ukrainians continue to fight for their future.

And sooner or later, that sprout will grow into something greater. Because freedom is not just a word – it’s a state of mind.

Semen Semenchenko

Tags: Analytics euromaidan maidan Opinion Ukraine