What you are living through. You. Your countrymen. Your children. I am angry today. Angry that the man at the head of my country is doing nothing. I am ashamed and angry at all the world’s leaders who are basically doing nothing. Yet you persist. You find beauty and are brave. May you and those you love see the end of this and victory. You all are heroes.
"Our" leader understands nothing about bravery, courage, self-sacrifice, service to others, compassion, or even love. I'm angry, too, at everything he has destroyed so far and will try to destroy in the future. I have no doubt that this will end very badly for him and all his supporters, family, etc. but the scope of what he has destroyed in our country is unimaginable. Our hearts are with you, Viktor, and the amazing and courageous people of Ukraine. You will prevail. Our hearts are with you all.
Linda - Thank you for expressing what I will never be able to say as well as you did. Ukraine does not aim for the places that hold people/populations like Russia does and that tells you a lot about the difference in character between the two countries. We should have done more even before T - especially since we all knew that T was beholden to Putin.
Last week I put out my Ukrainian flag (is it Ukraine or Ukrainian flag? I somehow believe that I am getting it wrong) and one neighbor asked me why. I asked him how much time he had so I could properly explain why. In a nutshell: I’m am proud to be an American but I am currently not proud of America. Until we get this current regime out of office I doubt I will ever hang back up the flag of my country. I explained why I support Ukraine and the people there who I have never met. Two days later my neighbors all up and down the street have either removed their American flags or put next to them flags from other countries (including three more flags from Ukraine). Our block (in a red voting state and county) now represents Venezuela, Cuba, Ukraine, Somalia, Hungary, Ireland and Canada to name a few that I can see from my home. I can see a few more that aren’t from here but I can’t tell what country they are from. I didn’t mean to start off a movement in our neighborhood but this is what happens when someone cares about others, enough to care to ask questions and they pass the word on. This all started because Ukraine was invaded and the people of Ukraine refused to bend the knee. Ukraine is a shining example of who we all should strive to be. Proud of our country, knowing what is right and what is wrong and then fighting like hell to either get it back or to keep it.
Amazing. What you did was light the bomb of understanding and compassion and accountability. You, too, are a soldier and hero in this fight for humanity.
I just read a New York Times article about a graduating class at a Kyiv high school. The students had been practicing for weeks so they could do a specially choreographed dance. The students were excited about what they would wear, what color the dresses would be, how much fun they would have celebrating their graduation.
Then the bombs came. And the apartment of one of the students, Masha, was destroyed. Her father was killed. Her grandmother was killed. Her mother was pulled from the rubble injured but alive. But Masha was killed.
Her fellow students were devastated, they attended her funeral, they all passed by to touch her casket, they threw dirt into the burial hole at the cemetery. And they grieved about the upcoming prom. They decided to continue on. And the young man who was to be Masha's date stepped onto the dance floor, put up his arms, and pretended to dance with her. Across the floor he glided, holding only empty space where Masha should have been. The parents were touched. Masha's mother left in tears.
It shows that the bombs do not discriminate when they fall. Even a young girl lost her life before she was given her diploma.
The news reports the numbers; of those displaced, those injured, those killed. But do we hear more than just the numbers? Each number is a unique person with a life and a story cut short. It is much easier to hear the numbers, and not hear about the person.
Extremely moving Victor. I so wish this evil would end. I think of Ukraine every evening when I listen to the podcast Uraine the Latest.....
Your words always bring the reality of the lived experience to us all. I long for the day when this suffering is at an end. The tide is turning on Putin...
Let me start again, when I read the news this morning, my heart sank. Another 20 people living their lives that were cut far too short. The flag in the window gave me inspiration that this country will never be defeated. Slava Ukraini and Slava you, Viktor. 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
When a flag isn't "just a flag", when blue and yellow aren't "just colors", when Ukrainians aren't "just residents" there is resistance against this evil that cannot be broken. There is love of country so powerful it cannot be contained. Witnessing this cannot be adequately described with mere words. We hope that you can feel the intensity of the good people of the world to support you. 🇺🇦💔
Viktor, that window symbolizes the heart of the Ukrainian people - shattered but still there with pride in your country. It is not possible for us to imagine the horror of a night like you just endured, yet today you are still standing and writing and determined to do what you must. We stand with you. You and your countrymen/women are not alone.
Oh my Victor I cannot even begin to imagine the fear and horrors you have had to endure. This has made me so sad to think they are doing this to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your beautiful people. Stay strong. Your flag, your people and me as well, will never give up hope for a better and safer world for you. Take care my friend xx
Viktor, I am so glad that you and Tolik are still with us. The bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people proves the incalculable value of freedom. It is an important lesson for the rest of the world. Slava Ukraini. 🇺🇦✌️🌻🐈⬛
My head aches for you and your country. I would say my heart does too, but you already know that. Every time I hear more atrocities happening to you my heart tries to fight back the hatred I feel against your enemies. It’s like a mist creeping around the edges of what keeps me human. Trying to turn me into something I don’t want to be. And then I see your words so clearly in front of my mind. I am no where close to what you’re going through. And, yet, I wonder how you keep it together night after night. I am still here for you and Ukraine even if it’s in my headache…and definitely in my heart. 💔❤️🩹❤️
We are all so sick when we hear each morning what Russia has perpetuated on Ukraine. It’s past due that Russia was punished for this to force an end to Putin and his regime.
Resist you must because if don't then the Ukrainian flag, as you know it, free flowing will be under a dictatorship worse than Stalin. My tears are for your country. My disgust is for Putin, telling him his days are numbered. Slava Ukraini
Sending you love and hope for tonight, and for every night. I a m amazed by your generosity of spirit, you rarely speak out against those who are watching and doing nothing as Putin tries to destroy you. One day the world will condem them as moral cowards. Until then, remember this, Ukraine will survive, with citizens like you how can it not ultimately be victorious?
What you are living through. You. Your countrymen. Your children. I am angry today. Angry that the man at the head of my country is doing nothing. I am ashamed and angry at all the world’s leaders who are basically doing nothing. Yet you persist. You find beauty and are brave. May you and those you love see the end of this and victory. You all are heroes.
"Our" leader understands nothing about bravery, courage, self-sacrifice, service to others, compassion, or even love. I'm angry, too, at everything he has destroyed so far and will try to destroy in the future. I have no doubt that this will end very badly for him and all his supporters, family, etc. but the scope of what he has destroyed in our country is unimaginable. Our hearts are with you, Viktor, and the amazing and courageous people of Ukraine. You will prevail. Our hearts are with you all.
I couldn’t have expressed it better. Thank you Linda, you’re also speaking on behalf of me, if you don’t mind.
Our country’s “leader” is ENABLING this!
Linda - Thank you for expressing what I will never be able to say as well as you did. Ukraine does not aim for the places that hold people/populations like Russia does and that tells you a lot about the difference in character between the two countries. We should have done more even before T - especially since we all knew that T was beholden to Putin.
Last week I put out my Ukrainian flag (is it Ukraine or Ukrainian flag? I somehow believe that I am getting it wrong) and one neighbor asked me why. I asked him how much time he had so I could properly explain why. In a nutshell: I’m am proud to be an American but I am currently not proud of America. Until we get this current regime out of office I doubt I will ever hang back up the flag of my country. I explained why I support Ukraine and the people there who I have never met. Two days later my neighbors all up and down the street have either removed their American flags or put next to them flags from other countries (including three more flags from Ukraine). Our block (in a red voting state and county) now represents Venezuela, Cuba, Ukraine, Somalia, Hungary, Ireland and Canada to name a few that I can see from my home. I can see a few more that aren’t from here but I can’t tell what country they are from. I didn’t mean to start off a movement in our neighborhood but this is what happens when someone cares about others, enough to care to ask questions and they pass the word on. This all started because Ukraine was invaded and the people of Ukraine refused to bend the knee. Ukraine is a shining example of who we all should strive to be. Proud of our country, knowing what is right and what is wrong and then fighting like hell to either get it back or to keep it.
Amazing. What you did was light the bomb of understanding and compassion and accountability. You, too, are a soldier and hero in this fight for humanity.
Linda - Thank you. I’m humbled by your words.
Your people have taken the worst that Putin can throw at you, and yet you stand. The world's admiration for your people knows no bounds, as does mine.
Slava Ukrani. Heroyam Ukraini.
I just read a New York Times article about a graduating class at a Kyiv high school. The students had been practicing for weeks so they could do a specially choreographed dance. The students were excited about what they would wear, what color the dresses would be, how much fun they would have celebrating their graduation.
Then the bombs came. And the apartment of one of the students, Masha, was destroyed. Her father was killed. Her grandmother was killed. Her mother was pulled from the rubble injured but alive. But Masha was killed.
Her fellow students were devastated, they attended her funeral, they all passed by to touch her casket, they threw dirt into the burial hole at the cemetery. And they grieved about the upcoming prom. They decided to continue on. And the young man who was to be Masha's date stepped onto the dance floor, put up his arms, and pretended to dance with her. Across the floor he glided, holding only empty space where Masha should have been. The parents were touched. Masha's mother left in tears.
It shows that the bombs do not discriminate when they fall. Even a young girl lost her life before she was given her diploma.
Thanks for sharing this heart-breaking story, Donna. I found the article (gifted here): https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/world/europe/russia-ukraine-prom.html?unlocked_article_code=1.u1A.ZRor.tGktHLCBn50k&smid=nytcore-ios-share
Damn, it got dusty in here all of a sudden. 😢
The news reports the numbers; of those displaced, those injured, those killed. But do we hear more than just the numbers? Each number is a unique person with a life and a story cut short. It is much easier to hear the numbers, and not hear about the person.
Unfortunate, but true. We don't take pity or get angry until we hear the personal stories. This is why Viktor's stories are so important.
Extremely moving Victor. I so wish this evil would end. I think of Ukraine every evening when I listen to the podcast Uraine the Latest.....
Your words always bring the reality of the lived experience to us all. I long for the day when this suffering is at an end. The tide is turning on Putin...
Slava Ukraine.
You are in our hearts Viktor
Let me start again, when I read the news this morning, my heart sank. Another 20 people living their lives that were cut far too short. The flag in the window gave me inspiration that this country will never be defeated. Slava Ukraini and Slava you, Viktor. 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
When a flag isn't "just a flag", when blue and yellow aren't "just colors", when Ukrainians aren't "just residents" there is resistance against this evil that cannot be broken. There is love of country so powerful it cannot be contained. Witnessing this cannot be adequately described with mere words. We hope that you can feel the intensity of the good people of the world to support you. 🇺🇦💔
This is the monstrous killer, who's picture trump hung in the White House. SLAVA UKRAINI
VICTORY FOR UKRAINE 🇺🇦
Viktor, that window symbolizes the heart of the Ukrainian people - shattered but still there with pride in your country. It is not possible for us to imagine the horror of a night like you just endured, yet today you are still standing and writing and determined to do what you must. We stand with you. You and your countrymen/women are not alone.
Oh my Victor I cannot even begin to imagine the fear and horrors you have had to endure. This has made me so sad to think they are doing this to you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your beautiful people. Stay strong. Your flag, your people and me as well, will never give up hope for a better and safer world for you. Take care my friend xx
Viktor, I am so glad that you and Tolik are still with us. The bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people proves the incalculable value of freedom. It is an important lesson for the rest of the world. Slava Ukraini. 🇺🇦✌️🌻🐈⬛
Count on my continued prayers, Viktor.
My head aches for you and your country. I would say my heart does too, but you already know that. Every time I hear more atrocities happening to you my heart tries to fight back the hatred I feel against your enemies. It’s like a mist creeping around the edges of what keeps me human. Trying to turn me into something I don’t want to be. And then I see your words so clearly in front of my mind. I am no where close to what you’re going through. And, yet, I wonder how you keep it together night after night. I am still here for you and Ukraine even if it’s in my headache…and definitely in my heart. 💔❤️🩹❤️
We are all so sick when we hear each morning what Russia has perpetuated on Ukraine. It’s past due that Russia was punished for this to force an end to Putin and his regime.
Resist you must because if don't then the Ukrainian flag, as you know it, free flowing will be under a dictatorship worse than Stalin. My tears are for your country. My disgust is for Putin, telling him his days are numbered. Slava Ukraini
When I read the news thiss
Sending you love and hope for tonight, and for every night. I a m amazed by your generosity of spirit, you rarely speak out against those who are watching and doing nothing as Putin tries to destroy you. One day the world will condem them as moral cowards. Until then, remember this, Ukraine will survive, with citizens like you how can it not ultimately be victorious?