In 2018 we experienced the UEFA Champions League final. Ten of thousands of people came to Ukraine’s capital and with my limited sports knowledge I reckon most of them were Liverpool supporters. Sorry Liverpool lost. There would have been a big party that night, but alas, a lot of sad soccer fans went to bed early.

The atmosphere those few days leading up to the final that weekend was just incredible. No one in Kyiv ever experienced anything like this, and all the people who came to visit were blown away. They all experienced the magic that Kyiv has in abundance.

The final between Liverpool and Real Madrid took place at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium which was built in 1923 and it has been renovated three times, most recently in 2011 in preparation for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. I was at the game – it was quite a thing.

I miss Kyiv. I dream of going back. To be at our home, and to live the magical life we once did. I know everything has changed since the Russian war started. But I know one day we will return. Ukraine will not be taken over by Russia. I do not believe that. I also know that there is a lot more pain still to come. Russia will not stop unless they are stopped. And right now, I don’t see the Western leaders doing nearly enough to stop this evil.

“There’s only one thing the West fears more than the fall of Kyiv. And this is the fall of Putin.”

If you want to learn more about Kyiv then watch Kyiv of Mine – you will be inspired. I am confident of that.