1004 day of war

Hello, friends!
This week, unfortunately, has been overwhelming with events. On Sunday, massive missile strikes on power plants resumed and continued throughout the week. Gradually, we’re returning to scheduled power outages, but we were prepared for this, so it came as no surprise. We’ve grown used to it and learned to adapt.

Then news broke that Ukraine was allowed to use long-range missiles. The world is strangely structured—at times, it feels like we’re fighting with our hands tied. Any kind of weapon is used against us; even North Korean troops are now openly involved in the war, yet we’re told, "Don’t shoot this," or "Don’t target that," while expecting us to achieve victories. It doesn’t work that way. We’re not a large country with endless resources, population, and weaponry. With so many restrictions, it’s impossible not only to win but even to defend our own territories. I’m glad this is gradually changing and that Ukraine is being given more opportunities. Though, of course, everything comes with consequences.

After the first strikes with long-range missiles, the news began reporting on the closures of various countries' consulates, which is always a sign for us to brace for something bad. During subsequent air raid alerts, we hid in basements, waiting for what would happen next. Then it happened: Putin completely lost his mind and launched an intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro. I immediately called my relatives in Dnipro—they’re already calm about these things and are doing fine. The attack didn’t cause significant destruction; as usual, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and residential buildings were damaged. Launching such a missile seems more like an attempt to intimidate us and the world.

Putin’s next address only confirmed this—he’s trying once again to scare the world with his threats. He even said these attacks would continue, but he would "warn" about them. He’s threatening strikes on central Kyiv or Lviv, but what military targets could he possibly find there? I see his anger, his inability to achieve his goals, and his increasingly senseless actions. At this point, these things no longer evoke fear, only confusion and anger at what he’s doing.

Today is the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine. On this date, we honor the memory of millions of Ukrainians who died due to the man-made famine orchestrated by the Soviet regime. In Mariupol, all memorials to Holodomor victims have been completely demolished, and their textbooks make no mention of it. I didn’t fully grasp this before, but now, seeing how they attempt to rewrite our history, I understand the importance of preserving traditions.

On this day, churches hold memorial services, and people lay flowers at the Holodomor Memorial. Many also light candles on their windowsills to honor those who perished from hunger. I remembered this when the lights were turned off and we also joined in this tradition)

Overall, we’re now buried under heavy snow, and it’s gotten very cold, but I feel fine. There’s a lot of work, leaving little time to dye T-shirts, but I hope to return to it closer to the holidays. For now, I’m working as much as I can and preparing for the real winter ahead.

It seems to me that this escalation in the war has its limits, and eventually, this must come to an end. Until then, we’re holding on and believing we’ll endure. Thank you all for your support and kind words—I truly appreciate it. A big thanks as well for your help on BuyMeACoffee. Thank you!