Two holidays, one power

 

"Two holidays, one power," is the English translation of "Два свята, одна сила." The two holidays were on consecutive days over the weekend: 23 August - Kharkiv City Day, marking the liberation of Kharkiv from Nazi Germany in 1943. It coincides with the National Flag Day of Ukraine; 24 August - Independence Day of Ukraine, commemorating the Declaration of Independence of 1991. These holidays have as much significance now as ever. In fact, I feel that the mood of celebration over this weekend exceeds the previous 3 years - the extravagance of the lights and decorations (funded by local businesses, I believe), and the jubilation of the crowds seems to verge on defiance. There is definitely no sense of a city (or country) that intends to capitulate to the territorial demands of the war criminal across the border.

This was Kharkiv last night, Independence Day evening...

The evident contradictions can be difficult to comprehend for those of us living here, let alone to outsiders. Just one week ago, Monday, 18 August was another day of mourning in Kharkiv. The night before there was a missile strike in Kharkiv's Industrial District, which is actually a large, densely populated, mostly working class area on the city's outskirts, consisting mainly of Soviet-built apartment blocks. The missile fell between buildings. Some hours later, as dawn broke and people were still asleep, five Shahed drones directly hit an apartment building from different directions, in the same district. Seven civilians were killed, among them a one-and-a-half-year-old girl and her teenage brother. Twenty people were injured. It was a purposeful strike. It's hard to conceive of such brutal cynicism but my feeling is that, as the previous missile did not hit its target, five drones were despatched to make sure the job was done. "Terror in its purest form, "as the mayor of Kharkiv put it.

The big flag in Kharkiv flew at half-mast again.

There always seem to be the most unlikely juxtapositions in the situation here: not 8 hours after the drone attack and murder of civilians, the city's gardeners were out planting trees and tending the immaculate gardens in Shevchenko Park.

It makes me think of my favourite English poet, William Blake, who, in his Proverbs of Hell, wrote "Excess of sorrow laughs; excess of joy weeps." The daily chatter and laughter in the kitchen seem to be another way of mitigating sadness, just like the flowers and decorations in the city centre. My alternative heading for this blog was "Pillows of joy amidst sorrow," referring to "pampushky," a form of garlic bread that is so much more than the dry or soggy version that we tend to have in England. Pampushky are made with small, soft bread rolls, topped with sunflower oil, and chopped fresh dill and garlic, maybe a squeeze of lemon juice. In the photo below, they also have some chopped fresh pepper on top, from Olena's garden. They are the best comfort food in the world or, as one of our volunteers put it, "pillows of joy!"

Food is very important to all of us, none more so than the volunteers in Hell's Kitchen and its recipients - hospitals, wounded soldiers and others. As well as essential nutrition, it also gives comfort and happiness, countering the sorrow and madness around us - the constant sirens, the bombings and the daily deaths and destruction.

On a personal level, a recent joyous occasion was my birthday, when kitchen volunteers trooped in, taking me by surprise, singing  "Happy Birthday," which was repeated again and again - and again! 

I love the Kharkiv socks I had as a birthday present!

Back to the reality of life here - just after I arrived home from last night's Independence Day celebrations there was a siren and air raid alert, warning of Shahed drones, followed not long afterwards by two explosions, thankfully not in the city centre. Thousands of people were still out celebrating, as Kharkiv's curfew has changed from 11pm to midnight. There has been no news of any damage or casualties. Hopefully, the drones were shot down.

The Guardian newspaper has written an in-depth article, following visits to 3 frontline hospitals, highlighting how attacks on maternity units have contributed to Ukrainian women being fearful of childbirth and a falling birth rate. Kharkiv is mentioned first; in late July the maternity unit of the city's main hospital was damaged in a drone strike. Giving birth is a stressful enough experience, but imagine the added stress of giving birth in a hospital close to the frontline, knowing that there are frequent bomb attacks and hospitals are frequently targeted.

The statistics are shocking:

There have been 81 attacks on maternity units in Ukraine since Russia's full invasion in 2022.

There are now three deaths for every birth.

In 2024, Ukraine suffered the lowest birth rate in the world and the highest mortality rate.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/21/russia-ukraine-war-childbirth-demographics-targeting-attacks-maternity-hospitals-kharkiv-sloviansk-khersonbirth-crisis

For me, this is a reminder of what prompted me to try to do something to help Ukraine, back in February 2022 when the Russians bombed a maternity hospital in Mariupol, leading to the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. At the time I thought it couldn't get any worse - how wrong I was.

Donations

Thank you, as always, for your donations; however small, they are effective.

I received a request for several items for the frontline, including tourniquets, instant food, dry shower gel, drinking water, gas cannisters, energy drinks and energy bars, and some larger items, such as a tablet with a large screen, Eco flow battery and SUP board (for paddling across the river). Two generous donations have already contributed to this request.

Franklin is fundraising for the 4th Rubizh Brigade's ground drones unit, which is active on the Pokrovsk front (Donetsk oblast), fighting against the Russian summer offensive.  A vice grip and large drill were amongst items we funded for this unit.

To make a donation to the regular causes I support, please open PayPal and, when asked for email, enter sunflower_house@hotmail.co.uk

You can specify where you would like your donation to go, including whether or not you wish to support a civilian only cause; otherwise I will send the money where I think the need is greatest:

Adults For Children supports families displaced by the war, and also local soldiers.

Hell's Kitchen cooks daily, nutritious meals and bakes bread, for hospitals, wounded soldiers and others in need.

Franklin, Hell's Kitchen foreign volunteer coordinator, supports soldiers and medics on the frontline.

Inya runs a small group of volunteers who make camouflage nets, ghillie suits and stretchers.

If you would like to donate to a charity that support animals, there is Animal Rescue Kharkiv.