What’s the purpose of a moment of silence?
Far more important than money or aid: human lives. For one moment the whole of Ukraine paused for a moment of silence to honor its fallen. But so far, efforts to codify it into law have failed.
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At 9:00 a.m. Ukraine paused.
Especially in the heart of the capital, the famous maidan: Independence Square.
People stand still, clutching portraits of their loved ones to their chests. Cars on the road have their engines turned off, drivers solemnly standing alongside, their hands over their hearts.
It’s hard to imagine what people are thinking of. Maybe a loved one. Maybe the fear of having to flee their homes. Maybe the sacrifices they have all had to make because of the decision of a foreign country to start a war.
Ultimately, it is a sign of respect for those who are no longer with us.
For a moment, it seems like a scene from a film where the world has stopped.
The periodic sobbing – and sometimes loud crying – of people who have lost loved ones in the war brings us back to reality.
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