The Ukrainian Left: Navigating War and Striving for a Just Future

A Divided City, A United Fight

Kyiv, February 2025. The Dnieper River carves a symbolic divide through the Ukrainian capital, separating the historic "Right Bank" from the "Left Bank" district of Pozniaky. It's here, in a Pozniaky bar, that I met Andrii, a 30-year-old web developer and member of Sotsialnyi Rukh (Social Movement, SR), a left-wing political organization.

Over chai, Andrii explained the complexities of Ukrainian social democracy, a tradition decimated by Bolsheviks and Russians, leaving the left historically tethered to the Communist Party. SR emerged after Euromaidan, offering a new path for those seeking a left-wing identity independent of both communist baggage and Russian influence.

Wartime realities have brought new challenges, with martial law restricting civil liberties. Yet, Andrii notes, the war has simultaneously galvanized civil society, fostering a vital dialogue with those in power.

"This feedback," he emphasizes, "is what saves us." SR, actively supporting both soldiers and war-affected civilians, has even campaigned for increased municipal funding for the army.

Echoes of Resistance in Podil

Across the Dnieper, in the bustling Right Bank district of Podil, lies the Sotsialnyi Rukh office, a space shared with student union Pryama Diya (Direct Action). Here, I met Vitaliy Dudin, a labor lawyer and SR co-founder; Dionysii Vynohradiv, a philology student representing both SR and Prima Dia; and Vova Hesfer, an environmental activist.

Dudin, whose writings I knew from the left-wing magazine *Commons*, stressed the central question of resistance. He expressed concern about the conditional nature of Western aid, potentially hindering long-term democratic development and international cooperation.

"The only thing we believe in," he declared, "is that the Ukrainian people should stand united and fight."

Funding for the office, Dudin revealed, comes from the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy, with support from Danish parties Enhedslisten and Alternativet, highlighting the international connections forged by SR.

The Burden of War: A "Just" Effort?

The initial surge of national resistance following the 2022 invasion is now facing a new threat—not the abandonment of the fight, but concerns over the fairness of the war effort itself. New deductions on workers’ salaries to fund the war, now at 5%, have disproportionately impacted the working class, while businesses remain largely unaffected.

Hanna Perekhoda, a historian and SR member, argues that the government's neoliberal policies undermine both economic sovereignty and social cohesion, vital for a nation at war. "The government is at a dead end," she asserts, "trying to wage total war while clinging to the fantasy of a neoliberal economy."

Vynohradiv adds, "There is a kind of breach of the social contract," highlighting the disparity between the elite, who can easily leave, and the rest of the population, burdened with obligations.

Solidarity Collectives: Anti-Authoritarianism in Action

Back in Pozniaky, amidst the towering 1990s-era buildings, I met with Solidarity Collectives (SC), a group formed after the 2022 invasion to aid both soldiers and civilians. Kseniia, a member of SC, described the diverse makeup of the group, ranging from anarchists and feminists to those simply sharing progressive ideals.

In a local KFC, the only source of coffee on a frigid morning, Kseniia explained the challenges faced by Pozniaky residents, many of whom work on the more affluent Right Bank. Air raid sirens frequently halt public transport to the Left Bank, leaving residents stranded or forced to pay exorbitant taxi fares.

SC's activities are multifaceted, with members enlisting in the military, aiding civilians, and even building and delivering drones to anti-authoritarian soldiers. Their commitment exemplifies the crucial support provided by Ukrainian civil society when state resources fall short.

Communication is key for SC. They aim to amplify the perspectives of left-wing activists on the front lines, both to bolster resistance and to explain their complex relationship with war, particularly for anti-militarists who have now taken up arms.

"Ukraine isn't perfect," Kseniia stated as she escorted me to the metro, "but it’s the most democratic project that exists in the post-USSR territories. And it was important for us to defend what we have, and to be able to continue to grow this project."

"For many left-wing activists outside of war zones and dictatorial states, these fundamental conditions – physical survival and basic freedom – are taken for granted." - Hanna Perekhoda

Europe on the Horizon: A Path Forward?

The European Union is seen by many as Ukraine's best hope, but not without reservations. Andrii observed that the romanticized pre-war view of Europe has shifted, with Ukrainians now recognizing its own social contradictions.

Despite this, the consensus remains: the EU offers a framework for greater rule of law and shared institutions, a potential safeguard against further erosion of social and economic rights.

As I left the SR office, Dudin shared a final thought that captured the essence of the Ukrainian struggle: "The wide popular support and mass solidarity that emerged during the war have shown that participation in political life is no longer a privilege of the upper classes."