Voice of Ukraine

From: Maia Mikhaluk in Kyiv (1066th day)

It’s not only adults who have to process the horrific experiences of the past three years of ruzzian invasion and missile attacks. For kids in many ways it’s even more challenging – losses of home and friends, separations from fathers, air raids and explosions, having to study in bomb shelters of their schools, sensing their parents’ fears and tiredness – almost all kids have to face these issues. Contemporary children’s books are helping Ukrainian kids process their harrowing experiences.

Today, I must have reread 3 times this book at Briana’s request. Then, she also asked Nick to read it again. Briana likes this book (some pages are in the photos of this post)

This book Battle for the City, is about the time when Kyiv was almost under siege, when ruzzian tanks and artillery systems were in the suburbs of Kyiv, and the explosions were shaking the city that at the time had virtually no air defense. We talked in those days about the Ghost of Kyiv – the Ukrainian military plane protecting the city from ruzzian missiles. Most likely, it was not one plane, but everyone talked about one – Ghost of Kyiv.

Over three years, this story has become relevant not only for Kyiv. Kids from many Ukrainian cities can relate. Isn’t it crazy that children could understand this book? More than that, they need it to help them process their reality.

Thankfully, the book ends positively, with bullies being destroyed and the city rebuilt. May this be true for the whole of Ukraine soon!

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