‘We’re still here’

Ukraine’s Independence Day as seen by Danish national Jens Alstrup. Photos from Kyiv

Jens Alstrup

photojournalist

The very centre of the city is Hotel Ukraine. I am almost the only guest here. The US has advised all its citizens to leave the country.

The centre of the city is most at risk. This is where I have my room at the 14th floor. We had 7 air sirens today, but nothing has been seen or heard.

The mood is contradictive. The morale is high. Ukraine has done wonders on the battlefield.

But so is the fear. What can the Russians do?

The much talking in Moscow about “escalation” of the war, makes people worry. What can that be? More missiles? Maybe directly at the parade of beaten Russian armor? Or maybe even the unmentionable weapons?

In spite of all the fear, the happiness cannot be hidden.

Ukraine is still here. People are still free.

They may for now have been lost some more territory outside Bakhmut, but the Russian Army’s ability to be in the offensive, has been severely limited by the new wonder weapons from America. Himars is the darling of all now. There is still talk about the great counter offensive in the autumn.

It is a fact that Ukraine was not run over in 3 days. All the worries about what may come against them today or tomorrow, cannot hide the optimism caused by the fact: “We are still here”.

And that is how I experienced the celebration that really wasn’t here because of concerns of safety.

Even McDonald’s should reopen very soon. How much more can life be put back to normal?