Despite All The Promises Of Peace - May 7th 2025
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It is May 7. I spent a few days in Kharkiv, my hometown located just a few dozen miles from the Russian border. At the start of the invasion, the Russians shelled the city with artillery. The shells could reach several districts, killing civilians there. During those attacks, my parents narrowly escaped death.

Today Kharkiv is no longer being hit by artillery. As soon as the Russian guns are brought into position, they are immediately destroyed.

Now the city is under daily attacks from ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones. These drones are aimed at residential neighborhoods, each carrying several hundred kilograms of explosives. On top of that, the Russians strap large amounts of nails to them. After the explosion, the nails scatter at bullet speed, killing or maiming everyone in their path.

I had a few days off and my comrades and I were allowed to stay at home in the apartment that has stood empty since my parents were evacuated three years ago it has several rooms with windows facing two different directions one side faces directly toward the Russian border I call it

the drone side, because that's the only direction the drones come from when they slam into buildings. The other side I call the ballistic side. The Russians launch ballistic missiles in a way that target whatever the drones can't reach. Dozens of drones and missiles hit the city each day. There are almost daily casualties and destruction.

constant destruction. You walk through the city and see ruined buildings, smoke from fires caused by the strikes, craters in the asphalt from missiles and cars shredded by shrapnel. The windows of homes are blown out everywhere and the smell of burning is always in the air.

But this is how it has always been. For all three years of this full-scale war, Kharkiv has lived like this. And yet there is a big change. Schools are now being built all over the city. But these aren't the kinds of schools you and I went to. These are underground schools. Huge excavation pits

House classrooms with several meters of reinforced concrete, crushed stone and other materials above them meant to protect students from missiles, shells and drones. And this construction continues at full speed despite all the promises of peace, despite all the hopes that the war will end soon. Underground schools. Children spending years of their lives in basements.

This is the new normal for towns near the Russian border. Because if your neighbors are murderers, you cannot live like other people do. You must protect what matters most – the children. And finally, I've written a new post on Substack. It's about Trump. Give it a read. And there are already a bunch of other pieces there as well. I'm sure you'll find something interesting. The link is in the description. Thank you.