Voice of Ukraine

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 357):

He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me.
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
Psalm 57:3

The day was nice and sunny, so we went to a local playground to enjoy some fresh air with hope of meeting some kids. One of the biggest challenges for our son is that there are no children nearby, and he misses his old friends. We were lucky to meet a family at the playground. While the kids were playing, we started talking with their mom. The brief phrases were both unique and universal at the same time, as usually happens when you speak with someone who shared your experience.

… You aren’t local, are you?… We left Kyiv early in the morning on the 24th (Feb 24, 2022) after the first explosions. Our bags were packed, and we were ready because we had the feeling it would happen… We were convinced we came here for two or three days, maybe a week, but it will be a year in a few days… Did you wonder what to do with school? Online education is the worst, and homeschooling is challenging, but these two are better options in our situation… We were hoping to find some afterschool activities, like a club or music lessons, but it would require a trip to another town, and it’s too much with everything that’s going on… We are reluctant to make any long-term commitments here because we want to believe we’d be able to return home soon, but that’s what we’ve been telling ourselves for the past year…

All of these phrases were spoken by that other mom, yet they describe our situation almost word for word. The past year’s pains, anxieties, and hopes resonate in each Ukrainian heart.

Meanwhile, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says that 97% of the Russian army is now committed to Ukraine, with an attrition rate very, very high (First World War levels of attrition), their combat effectiveness may have been depleted by 40%, and nearly two-thirds of their tanks have been destroyed or broken.” Yet the UK defense and security think tank believes war will likely continue into at least next year.

On a brighter note, we’ve been spoiled with a week without power cuts. Our energy system has achieved the necessary power generation level so the blackouts happen only due to power transportation problems (which is the case in the Odesa region and the active combat zone). However, we are not in a hurry to rejoice and relax as Russia hasn’t given up on destroying Ukraine and terrorizing civilians. The next couple of weeks are going to be intense and challenging for everyone as Russians will try any trick possible to present some victory for the 1-year anniversary. They are also intensifying their informational and psychological attacks in international media to undermine the support for Ukraine, so make sure you verify suspicious or compromising information before sharing it.

With more daylight, sun, and warmth, it is slightly easier to be hopeful. Lord, have mercy!