550 day of war

Hello, friends!

This week, the entire country celebrated Flag Day and Independence Day. Of course, we no longer have large-scale celebrations and parades due to the threat of missile strikes, but there were still festive events in the city. There were several concerts by local philharmonics, and the city also displayed large posters with photographs of fallen defenders of the country. A massive flag was unfurled, and the entire city was decorated for the occasion.

Fortunately, there weren't any major attacks, and these days passed fairly calmly. However, after the celebrations, started again air alarms. Yesterday alone, we had a total of 7 alerts. It didn't make much sense to leave the bomb shelter, as every time one alarm ended, a new one started almost immediately.

Nevertheless, we're holding on and believing in better times. Despite the significant challenges on the front due to dense minefields, our army managed to break through the main defense line on one of the fronts. This gives us hope that there will be progress on the frontlines. Though whatever successes we achieve, it's clear that the war won't end this year, and we must prepare for winter while we still can. As we approach the second year of the war, it seems that we're getting more used to the difficulties, such as problems with electricity, heating, and the need to endure the cold. We survived the first winter, so we can survive this one too. Perhaps this is the price of freedom, and we must go through it to change our country for the better.

Next week, it's Nastya's birthday. I'm planning to prepare several delicious dishes, including the main course – vegetarian lasagna. Even though we can't afford anything extra, I'll celebrate by treating her to some tasty food. Despite the tough times now, it appears that fewer daily news updates and busier schedules are genuinely helping us feel better. It's difficult to be in a situation without an escape and with factors beyond your control, but we need to stay strong and continue living, despite all obstacles. I'm confident that we'll overcome everything.

I wanted to thank everyone for the support. Thank you all so much <3