In brief
As the conflict with Russia marks its third year, President Volodymyr Zelensky leads a poignant commemoration centered on loss and resilience, with many Ukrainians grappling with the emotional toll of the war.
In Kyiv, on February 24, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a heartfelt video message honoring the sacrifices of Ukrainians during the ongoing war as the country reflected on three tumultuous years since the onset of Russia's invasion. Rather than celebrate with grand ceremonies, it was a day of contemplation about the lives lost and the profound transformations endured.Olha Shtepan, a Ukrainian refugee now residing in Hamburg, Germany, vividly recalled her harrowing escape during the early days of the attack in 2022. While working at a local supermarket, she found herself overwhelmed with emotion. "It’s a wound that doesn’t heal," she lamented, emphasizing the enduring pain felt by those who experienced the initial waves of violence firsthand. Her migration story began when she received her sister’s children in Kyiv, only to rush toward danger to reunite with her own family in Irpin—a suburb under siege.Amidst chaotic evacuations and destruction, one particular scene stood out: a blown-up bridge that acted as a lifeline for families escaping devastation, now etched in the minds of countless Ukrainians. As the war continues, vital reminders of grief and loss linger throughout the nation—abandoned vehicles of those who once tried to flee serve as stark relics of early desperation.This month, Ukraine Wow, a public organization promoting Ukrainian culture, unveiled an innovative memorial in Kyiv: a 12-foot-high animated sculpture of beating hearts installed at the central railway station. These symbolic hearts pulse in sync with messages sent from the public bearing the names of those lost to war, transforming grief into communal remembrance.As February unfolds, it evokes anguish and reflection among those who have experienced the horrors of war. For many, it remains a month fraught with sorrow, particularly as the anniversary of the invasion serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for peace and healing.
