Kharkiv Photo-Reel

Here, you can find current Kharkiv photos with descriptions/short stories that mirror the gist of each picture.

The leisure centre of the City – local Disneyland – is in blossom but quite empty, though: the enemy shells even this completely peaceful place, damaging dreams and hopes.

Now, their weapons and shells are very powerful, so the smoke from strikes can even be seen from different parts of the City.

Just in the midst of a weekday two missiles hit the biggest building materials shop in Kharkiv. People were burnt alive. A lot of people. Victims could only be identified by DNA tests..Even an 8-year-old boy came to take part in the blood test. His relatives…. had been killed….

Sad to say, but for the enemy, no bans on types of weapons, no non-proliferation treaties, are effective any longer – children, the elderly and rescuers are being killed cynically with different types of weapons: guided aerial bombs, cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, cluster munitions, and so on.

Because of the constant danger – when air raid alerts last for up to 20 hours or so (unimaginable!), pupils & students have to learn online. Still, this e-mode cannot prepare them for real-life communication and foster social skills. That’s why the first completely underground school (an anti-radioactive & bomb shelter) was built and commissioned.

The daily routine is when you wake up, drink coffee, read the news -we are all used to how everyday daily life goes. Not here, though. Now, daily air raid alerts and news reports of people killed and injured, of buildings torn to pieces have become the new reality. Still, does humanity deserve such a situation in the 21st century in the very centre of Europe? Absolutely not. If you share this conviction, please, help us. We in Kharkiv do not deserve it either.

Whatever some people might say, we in Kharkiv are united – we volunteer, we care, we try to be together clinging to each other and one another. Strength is the power of our days.

A young couple depicted on one of City’s bridges. Isn’t it lovely? It must be a serviceman who came to his beloved waiting for him….

The Lie is the enemy’s key strategy – everything: from murdered children to towns ruined completely in what they call ‘liberation’. ‘Of what?’, we all ask – of life, of health, of future? Nothing sacred – both churches and historical monuments are being ruined. Even the WWII memorial was shelled: no mercy, no understanding.

Despite the difficulties, the City keeps going in all directions, including culture . Thus, even this year the annual KharkivMusicFest was held in a sheltered area. Organised traditionally by French Honorary Consul in Kharkiv, the festival again showed that the resilience of citizens is remarkable and inspiring.

The City has lived a long time. Its historical quarter is damaged – the City Council premises and the adjacent buildings l. But it will withstand attack. Anyway, do these Russians really think the City which went through two world wars will ever give up? If so, they are wrong – just as usual – they really are. And it is Kharkiv that upset their plans and is the present shield of Europe.

It is not in our character to let others' lives go down the drain; no, we feed people daily, provide accommodation, we are united by the shared feeling of belonging. We belong here – and we will defend every inch of our land.

The colour of Kharkiv is green. It is in both its flag and coat of arms. We care for our urban environment planting trees and flowers, cherishing our future which we hope will be prosperous and safe.

In the centre of the City, there is an artwork – pieces made from weapons Kharkiv was shelled with. It is impossible to defeat the people who turn missiles into art.

Kharkiv is known for its street-art – when it turns into a kind of visual poetry. The writing goes: keys miss their doors – so many people left their homes fleeing from war and destruction….But they left not homes only, but their hearts as well. ‘It hurts me’, people say, ‘what?’ – the question arises; the answer is pretty brief: ‘Kharkiv’.

Foreigners coming to Kharkiv note it is very clean and for a sec one may just forget the war is on, but, alas, it is. To simplify people’s and IDPs life, all transportation in Khakriv is free of charge, and utilities are operating round the clock.

Recently, the enemy shelled the publishing house in Kharkiv – one of the biggest in Ukraine. Many workers – women – were killed by the strike, literally torn into pieces. Now, children can be left without even textbooks – no facility can cover the volume this house was producing.

Strange to note, but people tend to share across social media a line commonly known among youngsters – ‘Even in the darkest of times one shall not forget to turn to the light.’

Those who put their lives at risk and save other’s lives. Now, it’s getting harder: once a strike on the City occurs, rescuers rush to the scene of the accident. And when they are on the spot, the enemy shells the place again to kill rescuers this time. Cowards - it is the most ‘politically-correct’ word.

Prior to the war, many people from across Ukraine and the region as well used to come to Kharkiv to enjoy splendid parks and beautiful scenery.

People marry, children are being born – anyway, life cannot be postponed.

The ancient wise men said that everything flows and changes: we hope this – what we are seeing now – will also change. The point is when and how many other victims are needed for the world to awaken to see that the demon of war is knocking at its doors.

This City is unique; probably, no other cities have residents admiring and loving it so much as we do. That’s why people return to Kharkiv: only if the city is a favourable environment will people come back. East, west, home is the best.

In this rapid-changing circumstances no time is to be spared for daydreaming or waiting – we all act now. We help each other, we share what we have. But we need help – and we are really grateful to all those who understand it and provide assistance.

Only the cowards kill children. So many kids were injured and killed, stolen and separated from their parents by the enemy. This monument is always covered with toys and cards. People recall one young boy’s note on his evacuation and addressing the Lord: “God, save Kharkiv! /kid’s name, 8 y.o./’ The note on the monument reads – ‘To the young angels who faced the adults’ cruelty very early and will never become adolescents’…..

In March 2024, the enemy destroyed the majority of the City's power infrastructure so the heating season was stopped prior to the time planned. Currently, Kharkiv deperately needs cogeneration units and gas turbines to survive the upcoming winter and secure the local power grid.

One of the churches of the City. The bishop’s figure is overlooking the horizon filled with war smoke.