From: Maia Mikhaluk in Kyiv (1346th day)
I catch myself thinking how strange it’s become — what we in Ukraine now consider “positive.”
The last night before I got on the road, there was a massive attack: over 700 missiles and drones striking our cities. And my morning thought was, maybe it’s good this happened now — maybe while I’m gone, there won’t be another massive attack. Faulty logic, of course.
A couple of years ago, we could still predict the “cycles” — a big attack followed by 10–14 days of relative quiet. But for more than a year now, it’s been nightly. When it’s “only” 100 or 200 drones, we think — oh, that’s not too bad. Of course, even those 200 bring destruction and death. But after 700+, perspective warps.
The other day, during a concert, an air raid interrupted the performance. We went down to the bomb shelter, everyone glued to their phones, waiting. Someone said, “It’s ballistic missiles — it’ll be over quickly.” And people actually felt relieved. Ballistic missiles are far more powerful and deadly — but the logic was simple: if it’s quick, maybe we can get back to life, back to the concert – that is if we don’t get burried under the theater, of course.
That’s the kind of “positive” we live with now. In Ukraine, even relief comes wrapped in absurdity.
My train journey west was safe, but not all were as fortunate. Trains in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions were hit by what appeared to be targeted strikes. Even travel — once such an ordinary thing — now feels like another act of faith.
Voice of Ukraine 