Hi, I'm Gregor. I've been to 17 countries for coding competitions, including two ICPC world finals (judging from my color here, I must have had some really good teammates...). I've never posted here before, but I love this open community, and due to the current situation, I'd like to convey this message to all my Russian friends here:

I'm from Germany. As you will know, eight decades ago, my country, ruled by the nazis, has brought the greatest horrors upon the jewish people and upon the entire world. Adolf Hitler, and countless millions who followed him, fought against the entire world, without any justification other than to gain more territory and power, and committed crimes so cruel and gruesome they go beyond anyone's imagination. Estimated 60 — 80 million people were killed, many more lives around the world were upended. Instead of providing a better future for their children, parents had to bury them. My own great-grandparents fought and died, I presume vicously and full of conviction, on the wrong side in this injust war.

I don't mean to draw any comparison here, the horrors of nazi Germany clearly exceed any scale. I'm adressing this past because we all share a bond through our common history. I'd like to assure you: people in Germany are deeply aware of the great sacrifices the soviet union, including both Russia and Ukraine, made to save the world from these horrors. When the victory over nazi Germany is celebrated in Russia and Ukraine, people in Germany share the joy. Because as citizens from these countries, if we know about our horrible history, we're all on the same side now. We're all on the side that wants to prevent conflict and human suffering. Whenever I meet people abroad, I have no doubt of this.

We've all learned the same lessons from our past. We all know that we're born equal, and that no ethnicity is inferior, no origin is superior. We all know that every human deserves dignity and that no person or group may be treated inhumanely, nowhere, never. We all know to tell right and wrong apart. It is innate to all of us, we only have to listen to our conscience. We all know of the dangers of totalitarianism and fascism, when information is restricted, diverging viewpoints are shut out and every opposition is prosecuted and punished tyrannically. And we all know painfully well that leaders who exploit our worst instincts can lead the world into darkness.

Based on our past, we all understand very clearly that when a leader orders over 150000 soldiers to attack a neighbouring nation in a violent, all-out war, without any sensible reason or justification, it is wrong. When hospitals, schools and universities, kindergardens and theaters are bombed, it is wrong. When women and children are purposely targeted and war crimes are committed in systematic fashion, it is wrong. When community leaders and ordinary citizens are deported, imprisoned or killed, it is wrong. When indiscriminate terror is used as bargaining chip for negotiations, it is wrong. When entire cities are sieged and turned into nothing but rubble and ashes, it is wrong. When all respect for human life is getting lost, it is wrong. In case you're unsure about these facts, please trust me: all of this is happening right now in the center of Europe. Over 10 million people have already fled their homes, according to the United Nations — many of them to the European Union, where I live. When presented with the factual information, no sane mind will have any doubt that this war is a grave crime against humanity.

And it must be stopped. Being aware of our history, we all know this, rationally and deep in our hearts. But it needs to be shouted out loudly and clearly, everywhere and by everyone. We must stop it now.

Never again!

PS: I know this place is about coding. But everything, including the ability to code together internationally or to find good IT jobs, depends on the decisions we take as society. So please don't let anyone tell you that this war shouldn't be discussed — instead, discuss it at home, at work, with your friends or (if you're brave and willing to take the risk) on the streets, everywhere. The quality of all of our lives, and in many cases life itself, depend on it.

PPS: For a more detailed discussion of the facts, please see below: https://codeforces.me/blog/entry/101055?#comment-897318

PPPS: A small number of people seem to argue that there is some power struggle going on in the world. And that's why Russia has a reason to invade Ukraine, to protect it's own power or similar.

Let me be unmistakably clear: This is why I've written this post. This is the madness, the pure insanity I'm trying to address, the disregard of human life that I'm afraid of. You cannot, never ever, under no circumstances, in no way and in no sense, justify the death and harm of people with the need to enlarge any power. It's simply wrong, and we all know it.

Apart from that, I'd like to assure you: there also is no power struggle, nobody wants to harm Russia in any way. There only is Putin's struggle. He is struggling to keep us in his hostile and cruel past, struggling to prevent the bright future that each and everyone of us deserves. If you do not share this view, then this explanation is for you. This war totally devastates Ukraine, but it is also an unfathomable catastrophe for Russia, Europe and the entire world. It is an abomination that will cause darkness and suffering for all of us. We cannot sit idly by and watch how our world, how all of our lives are getting wrecked. Please, help stop this horror!