By: Edward Zeng

Though these may be hard times for the many Ukrainian families fighting for their lives, they can find a spark of hope—maybe even joy—hiding amid the hatred that Putin has brought into their country.

According to The New York Times, the Odesa Opera House reopened amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in June of 2022. Looking out at the battlefield, many Ukrainians had lost much of their hope, but after all the Ukrainians have been through, they realized that their national spirit could lead them through anything, The New York Times continued. In the chief conductor’s words, “…we want to believe in the victory of civilization.”

Odesa sets an example for all of the other Ukrainian cities to remember the heart and soul of their culture and to express it, not just protect it. However, even with the joy that comes from expressing their culture, Ukrainians must remember that danger remains. Unity is essential to protect the culture from this danger. Odesa has been bombed by Russians many times in this war, and Ukrainian culture cannot be expressed to its full extent until the war is over.

The Opera House reopening shows that today, even in hard times, Odesa is alive, and so is Ukraine. Ukrainians are in need, but they also hold a culture within them that they want to be expressed to the world.