Fighting for independence - the Ukrainian perspective from Oksana Kukurudza

Oksana Kukurudza is a Ukrainian American author, speaker and management consultant who joins me from upstate New York to share her remarkable family history and her perspective on what’s happening today in Ukraine. We time-jump almost 100 years and yet many things remain or resonate for people who have already lived through unimaginable conflict, displacement and hardship.  We navigate through Oksana’s parents' journey from being slaves in Nazi Germany to finding a home in the USA. It's remarkable how their enduring spirit enabled them to overcome the challenges of poverty and insecurity. It serves as a reminder of the power of resilience and determination.This is a powerful interview, very deeply emotional, and it's one that we all need to be aware of. What happens in Ukraine affects all of us, our humanity, identity and autonomy.  Shownotes See more at http://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/leadership-resilience-oksana-kukurudza  Key Moments  Planet human: [00:00:29] A very cool innovation in the Middle East where it is very hot are urban forests designed to grow rapidly and increase shade. Read about it here. Planet Zoe: [00:01:23] Travel, team engagements and outdoorsy, fun stuff!  The Immigrant Experience and the Russo-Ukrainian War [00:02:46] Guest Oksana Kukurudza discusses her parents' immigrant experience from Ukraine to the US and the current Russo-Ukrainian war. The forced labour camps and liberation [00:11:29] Discussion of the experiences of people who were forced to work in slave camps during World War II and their liberation by the Soviet and Western Allies. The fear of Soviet occupation [00:15:23] Explanation of the fear and apprehension towards Soviet occupation in Ukraine due to past experiences. The Refugee Crisis in Ukraine [00:25:55] Oksana's personal reaction to the Russo-Ukrainian war and the refugee crisis happening in Ukraine. Putin's Objectives [00:29:50] Exploration of Putin's objectives in the conflict, including the desire to reconstitute the Russian empire and maintain a buffer nation between Russia and NATO. The history and resilience of Ukraine [00:35:12] Discussion about Ukraine's history of being occupied by foreign powers and its fight for self-determination and independence. The importance of telling Ukraine's story [00:37:11] Why Oksana feels compelled to write a book about Ukraine's current war and its historical significance, hoping to educate and raise awareness among global citizens. The need for global support and action [00:38:12] The importance of global society's response to the war in Ukraine, the parallelism with past conflicts, and the need to push back against territorial imperialism and support Ukraine's path to self-determination. The importance of care, curiosity, and commitment [00:48:30] Zoe reflects on her conversation with Oksana Kukaracha and emphasises the importance of caring, being curious, and showing commitment in understanding and supporting global issues.