This Saturday was Independence Day in Ukraine and the mood in Kyiv was spirited. It was good for the soul. The city center was full of life, and for a moment in time all felt “normal”. But this morning there was a massive attack on Ukraine. Here in Kyiv I heard many explosions and now the electricity and the water are out. There are dead and wounded throughout the land.

On Saturday evening I was sitting at home feeling inspired by what I experienced that afternoon in the city. I wrote some text about it. And now, as I sit here this afternoon I feel sadness and despair. When will this nightmare ever end?! And what will happen this winter if Russia continues to attack more infrastructure. It could be a seriously hardcore Christmas here and many innocent people could suffer, and die. If the heating system does not work here this cold season then Europe could face the biggest humanitarian crises it has ever had to deal with.

Ukraine — A brave country celebrates its Independence Day