On Monday evening, President Vladimir Putin recognized the separate regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states.
– It’s an obvious escalation, a big step and a violation of international law, but it’s not surprising to anyone, at least not in Ukraine, says Andreas Flodström, who has lived and run Swedish-Ukrainian IT company Beetroot in the capital Kiev since 2012.
– Russia has controlled these areas since 2014, and there is no change on the ground. Shops and restaurants are open as usual and people go about their daily lives.
After eight years of conflict, many Ukrainians have become polite. According to Andreas Fludstrom, the lack of panic is in part a conscious patriotic attitude of the population.
Beneath the surface, the Swede feels a powerful motivating force.
“Ukrainians are ready to do their part in the defense of their country. Now the man in Moscow has made his move. How the West reacts to it plays a decisive role in the future.”
Ukrainians are ready to do their part to defend their country. Now the guy in Moscow has made his move. How the West reacts to it plays a crucial role in the future.
He himself grew up In Kungälv north of Gothenburg. During his studies at Chalmers, he got acquainted with Gustav Heinemann. Together, they founded Beetroot, a social enterprise in the field of software development and information technology, in 2012.
I’m business as usual, and I have no plans to leave Ukraine, says Andreas Fludstrom, a technology contractor from Kungälv who has run Swedish-Ukrainian Beetroot in Kiev for ten years.
Picture: click on the picture
The Swedish-Ukrainian company is currently located in nine Ukrainian cities with a total of about 600 employees, all of whom are Ukrainian. The Swedish technical duo is also training new IT engineers at more than 15 locations in Ukraine.
So far, 20 out of 600 employees, or 3 percent, have accepted the company’s offer to move to offices in western Ukraine.
– Putin’s actions on Monday why neither nor whom. I spoke with our colleagues in the East the next morning, and everything was quiet and as usual. This weekend we are arranging a ski trip for 300 employees to western Ukraine, says Andreas Fludstrom.
He is married with the Ukrainian.
– I definitely have a fully charged car, but it doesn’t matter much. I am working as usual and have no plans to leave the country.
More Stories
This is how much the President and Vice President of the United States earn
Melania on Donald Trump: “He is not Hitler” | the world
Major attack on Gaza – hospitals appeal for help