"We are still here"

Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv through the eyes of the Danes of Jens Alstruple. Photo

Jens Alstrup

photojournalist

In the very center of the city there is a hotel "Ukraine". I am practically the only guest here. The United States recommended that all its citizens leave the country.

The city center is the most risk zone. My hotel room is on the 14th floor.

Today we had seven airy aircraft signals, but it was not visible or heard that something arrived.

The mood is contradictory. The moral spirit is high. Ukraine works miracles on the battlefield. But great and fear.

What can the Russians do? Numerous conversations in Moscow about the "escalation" of the war make people worry. What could it be? More missile strikes?

Maybe directly to the "parade" of the destroyed military Russian equipment? Or maybe it will be some kind of unprecedented weapon?

But despite all fear, it is impossible to hide joy. Ukraine is still here. People are still free.

Perhaps right now they have lost several more territories behind Bakhmut, but the Russian army’s ability to attack was very limited by the new miracle-arrangement from America. Himars is now a universal favorite. And there is still talk about a large counterattack in the fall.

This is the fact that Ukraine was not crushed in 3 days. All the anxieties about what can collapse on them today or tomorrow cannot hide the optimism caused by the fact: "We are still here."

And this is how I felt a holiday that was actually not due to fear for security.

Even McDonald's will soon open again - the surest sign that life is returning to the normal direction.