![‘My father just died. He was a farmer and an engineer,’ I said to our driver Serjei in Kyiv via Google Translate.In some...](https://img3.medioq.com/588/965/931205395889650.jpg)
09/02/2025
‘My father just died. He was a farmer and an engineer,’ I said to our driver Serjei in Kyiv via Google Translate.
In some ways relying on Google Translate keeps conversation concise. You choose only the essential words for that moment.
‘My mother has 8 goats and they love eating banana skins, ‘ Serjei replied.
‘I’m sorry I guess I’m not so good looking,’ he continued.
As we trudged up an icy slope with my camera kit to get some shots of a snowy, grey Kyiv he added: ‘Beauty doesn’t come without sacrifice.’
I don’t know what I’d expected from Ukraine, but having spent last week there with my new job as head of comms with the David Nott foundation, I find myself in thrall to this land and its people.
For the past three years they have been defending Europe - every man over 26 years old is expected to fight - they fight on rotation.
We travelled the vast landscapes in enormous trains - guided by the beautiful Khrystyna, between three cities - Lviv, Kyiv and Vinnytsia - to meet surgeons saving lives on the frontline.
Psychological warfare removes any remnant of normal life - ‘teachers send the children home every day saying there are land mines in the schools. No one knows the truth.’ said one anaesthetist. Sirens sound day and night leaving people dithering with jeopardy - to go to the shelter or try to get a full night of sleep?
The vast train stations, one housing an ornate organ are frequented with men of all ages in army fatigues, leaving for and returning from the front.
I was left with the remarks of another Serjei - proudly showing me pictures of his last trip to the front - standing in snowy forests with his battalion. He was to return the following day. ‘How many of your battalion returned from the last one?’ I asked.
‘Only 50 per cent of us came back.’
💔🇺🇦