“The capital of Ukraine is supplied with food for at least 2 weeks. Kyiv is ready for the siege – Vitaliy Klitschko.”
That was the first message I saw when I woke up in the morning. This has greatly raised my fighting spirit, which has recently become very tired and in part would like to run away. However, I keep it. With all my might. I am saved by the fact that I go outside from time to time. Because at home I probably would have gone crazy. And when I see the city that I love so much, which has hardly suffered so far, it is as if my wings are growing.
This morning, probably inspired by a message from Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, I decided not only to walk through the devastated area, but also to talk to people.
For your understanding, I live next to Victory Park – one of the largest parks in the capital. I remember it being bright, loud and full of people. Today, everything is different there. In the morning I did not see anyone. At all. Even animals and birds that constantly gather near the lake. Huge carousels stand alone in the middle of the park, like ghosts. All the cafes are closed. Morning Kyiv reminded me of the town of Prypyat after the evacuation of the entire population due to the Chornobyl explosion. By the way, also through Russia’s actions. But won’t talk about that now.
According to official data, most people in the city have now left Kyiv. That is, according to various estimates, there are now about 2 million people in the capital. Many of them sit in basements even during the day. And those who come out are no longer as friendly as they were a month ago. And they cannot be condemned, because we are all full of fear now. One way or another, I found an interlocutor.
Artem Petrovych turned 75 on February 20. I met him at the exit from Victory Park. Bending his back, he slowly climbed the stairs. As he later said, his children went to Europe in the first days of the war. He refused to go.
“I have lived here all my life. I am an engineer. Designed some buildings in the area. This is my land. Why should I flee? I am frightened by the mere thought that all this would not have happened if my generation had been more cautious. You are still children. And we lived a long life. Russia has repeatedly staged genocide of the Ukrainian people. And we all knew it would happen again. But I think after the war it will end and we will cut all the ends of our ties forever,” says Grandpa, barely holding back tears.
He is like me. He goes outside and walks around his neighborhood so as not to go crazy at home. Or maybe to make sure that the buildings he designed are still alive. Artem Petrovych does not talk for long. He wishes me peace, glory to Ukraine and eternal memory of the fallen. And goes deep into the park. The last thing I see are tears welling up in his eyes. The cold discharged my phone. So I can’t even memorize our photo, which is what I usually like to do.
He leaves, and I am left alone with my thoughts. Alone with the whole world. I wonder when was the last time Artem Petrovych talked to someone? Where will he go now? Is it likely that we’ll meet tomorrow morning or someday? Shall we take a photo together?
I didn’t want to talk to anyone else. The sun came out of the clouds. Several grocery stores opened. Queues began to line up for them. The news is increasingly saying that the Russians want to lay siege to Kyiv. But I know everything will be fine.
“The capital of Ukraine is supplied with food for at least 2 weeks. Kyiv is ready for the siege…”
