Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the commander of the National Armed Forces (NAF) Headquarters Battalion, Colonel Antonina Blodone, has often been asked where to run in case of war. In an interview for the LTV program “Viens pret vienu,” the colonel stated that she is frightened by the mentality of Latvians: most likely, the majority would prefer to flee rather than act like Ukrainians — striving to return to their country to help it and have children, writes nra.lv.
“I think we will perish if we run away and do not try to defend ourselves. Our task is to protect this state,” said A. Blodone. She emphasized that she does not believe children should see war or live in conditions of war — children are our future.
The colonel cited Israel as an example, where a ceasefire is currently in effect, but the situation remains unsafe; however, people there are starting families, and the birth rate is high.
“And in Latvia? Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, people here think: I won’t plant a greenhouse this year — what if there’s a war… We won’t have children now, we’ll wait until everything is calm. We do not think about the state, we do not think of ourselves as Latvians, as a continuation; we think about what is convenient for me at this moment,” said A. Blodone.
According to A. Blodone, she does not believe that all people are like this, but many think only of themselves; they are the “center of the earth,” there is no one smarter or better than them, and they must save themselves while not feeling a sense of belonging to this country. And if something happens — they are ready to flee. “This cannot go on — then we, as Latvians, will disappear, and there will be neither Latvia nor Latvians,” concluded the colonel of the National Armed Forces.
