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And where is Gondor?
On February 24 I woke up in the night suddenly. national heroes. Or shall I tell about Sunflower
I felt some strange pressure in my heart. I had Lady in Henichesk, the small southern city?
never felt like that in my life. It was a peaceful On Thursday she approached Russian armed
and quiet night in London. The only sound I soldiers bravely and demanded to know what
heard was a fox barking in the distance. I checked they were doing on her soil. She condemned
the time on my phone: five in the morning. these occupants and suggested putting
Instinctively I opened Facebook and saw awful sunflower seeds in their pockets, so when they
news: “Russia launches rockets on Ukraine.” die they will grow into a beautiful sunflower. Or
The whole country was on fire. I’ve read it many maybe it should be the story about Hostomel,
times but couldn’t grasp any sense of it. the city not far from Kyiv, our capital, that
Russians tried to occupy the whole day (their
At the same time in the countryside not far target is the military airport). Just imagine:
from Kyiv my mom and dad woke up as well Russians tried to occupy Hostomel the whole
– but because of explosions. They understood day. They sent 34 military helicopters with
instantly what was going on although they their best from the best, but till late into night
had never heard the sounds of bombs before. Ukrainian warriors destroyed all of them. As
They are peaceful, ordinary people. The rocket it is said in our popular song, “The lullaby for
exploded within 15 miles of their place. They the enemy”: “You wanted this soil, so mix with
put on their clothes in complete darkness and it now. You will be my soil. Sleep. Sleep.’
went down the stairs to calm their five cats
and the dog. The animals were petrified. My On Thursday German MP Frau Strack-
parents bought water and other basic supplies, Zimmerman cynically remarked that it was
and put tape on the windows to protect from only a couple of hours until Kyiv would be
breaking glass. It was the beginning of the very occupied. For now, the losses of the Russian
long and hard day. army are more than 2,800 soldiers, about 80
tanks, 516 armored vehicles, 7 helicopters, 10
Today is Friday. I brought my daughter to aircraft, and Kyiv is still fighting. Sorry, Frau
school while my best friends in Kyiv ran to the Strack-Zimmerman, Ukrainians disappointed
shelters with kids and animals. Moms gathered you. So many heroic dramas have occurred:
around me kindly asking me how I feel and the Ukrainian soldier who sacrificed his life to
how they can help. And for the first time in blow up the bridge to stop Russian tanks, an
my life I literally couldn’t say a single word. ordinary Ukrainian who tried to stop Russian
How would I explain this suffering? How to tanks with his bare hands or the old man who
fit into one small-talk that extremely long day, blocked the armored vehicles with his car.
the day that can be put into scripts for dozens
of movies starring famous actors or become Hollywood, you don’t need ancient legends
bestselling books? Where shall I begin? Maybe anymore, the first day of war in Ukraine
with Snake Island, the tiny rocky plot of land provided you with plenty of stories for the new
in the Black sea, guarded by 13 border patrol Oscar-winning movie to watch and cry. Or
agents, a rocky outcropping with nowhere to maybe I will tell you about Russian divisions
hide and just a couple of buildings and two whose tank ran over the civilian car with the
Russian warships in plain sight. man inside on the almost empty street in Kyiv?
They were caught on camera by ordinary boys.
“This is a Russian warship. Lay down your arms
and surrender to avoid bloodshed. Otherwise, Shoulder to shoulder Ukrainian civilians and
we will fire on you!” the Army fight against Russian occupants.
“Russian warship, go fuck to Hell!” were the last Right now as I write, moms in Ukrainian cities
words of our warriors, who will be honored as share the Molotov cocktail recipe on social
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media and discuss where to get more gasoline. like lions. Our now legendary top gun MIG-29
There should be no problems with bottles as the aircraft pilot wreaked havoc claiming 6 enemy
recycling center “Litter-Free Ukraine” (what a aircraft. He already got The Ghost of Kyiv
nice name) announced that they will give back nickname. I listened to Ukrainian warriors and
glass bottles of all sizes. People are coming out how they speak – they sound like experienced
from shelters to resist and fight back. I see my and professional warriors. Then I listen to Jens
friends, artists, singers, cooks and my college’s Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general, in hope.
journalists dressed up in uniforms the whole But who could be impressed by perplexed
day. There are queues in our recruiting centers and lost person stuttering all the time and
and in hospitals to donate blood for the Army. struggling to give clear answers?
“Till what time will the store be open?” asked
my friend in the shop. “Until the building falls. Yesterday, our army stopped the enemy
We’re going to be open until the very last, even troops in all directions and shot a “Welcome
if there are bullets flying in the air,” answered to hell” video, where they promised to fight
the girl. for Ukraine on the land, on the water and in
the air. One of my favorite historic characters,
Literally, all Ukrainians are fighting for their Winston Churchill, told the same to British
freedom and independence. Russians. Russians people before the Blitz. For a long time Britain
are your fairy tale. Smoke and mirrors, bright stood alone in front of Hitler. As we do now.
feathers and a lot of makeup. They enchanted Other countries observe our Battle for Ukraine
you with the ballet, Dostoevsky and all this from a safe distance. Though there is no safe
“mysterious soul” stuff, but in fact it is only the distance in Europe anymore.
shiny skin of the vampire. The skin hides that
ugly, stinking, hungry monster who longs for “Mom, tomorrow when we wake up, are you
more blood. going to cry again?” asked my little daughter.
“No, sweetheart, tomorrow I’m going to follow
We, Ukrainians, know it very well. They are messages from Ukrainian warriors. Nothing
barbarians who have no dignity and fight cheers me up better.”
with no rules. That’s why their targets are
civil buildings, hospitals, kindergartens and We urgently need your help when the endless
orphanages. And Chernobyl. It is not only rows of gray military troops of “brothers”
Ukraine that they want, but the whole world as invades our country. Europe, USA, the World,
their hostage. All they do is invade your country Civilisation, we need your help! We fight for
and destroy you. Russians call it “brotherly the freedom, democracy and independence
love”. In their movies Russian soldiers are very that you’ve declared to be your primary and
brave. The reality shows they are just cowards most precious values. It is time to prove they
though. Yesterday, during the first day of the are not merely beautiful meaningless words.
massive invasion, a whole brigade surrendered Otherwise, what’s the sense in reading to your
to the Ukrainian army without a single shot child The Lord of the Rings’ where people,
fired. Their chief officer looked very scared. elves, dwarfs and hobbits unite to fight against
Ukrainian Army. My friends are joking that Mordor whilst we let orcs and goblins destroy
we believe in our army more than the Pope of someone’s green and wonderful Shire in real
Rome believes in God. life? We have lit up our warning beacons!
Where are you, Gondor?
People have donated more than £500k in just
a single day alone to our popular fundraising Antonina Maliei
“Save life”. It was our anti-stress exercise. The
Ukrainian Army feels the support and fights
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