Voice of Ukraine

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 554):

May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 104:34‭-‬35

It is interesting how Kyiv can feel so familiar yet so different at the same time. When we returned home and started inspecting some of our belongings, we were surprised to find face masks. Covid health regulations were still in place when we left in February 2022, but they feel like a lifetime ago.

While running errands today, I would say the usual, “Have a nice day!” and hear, “Oh, as long as we have a quiet day, it is going to be a nice one,” or “Don’t we all need a nice day and a quiet night?” in response.

Several city authorities posted announcements tonight, informing Kyiv residents that there was no need to worry because the loud sounds they were hearing were not explosions but a thunderstorm. A thunderstorm, a natural phenomenon, has to be officially confirmed by our air defense forces.

Meanwhile, 48% of schoolchildren in the occupied and constantly terrorized part of Zaporizhzhia region stated Ukrainian as their native language, so the occupational authorities should grant their learning rights. I admire their strength and dedication after 18 months of oppression and threats.