War in Ukraine: camouflage nets and children’s pictures

Russian attacks are increasingly hitting western Ukraine. But here, too, people do not want to surrender. Fighting spirit is growing in Lviv

For the first time during the Ukraine war, rockets fell in the immediate vicinity of the city of Lviv yesterday. They apparently hit the Yavoriv military training area in western Ukraine, 30 kilometers northwest of the city. A military academy and the international training center for peacekeeping operations are located on the premises. Preparations are underway for the war to come to a greater extent in western Ukraine.

Air alert again calls on passers-by in downtown Lviv to go to shelters. Russian missile strikes may threaten again. The penetrating voice, accompanied by a penetrating siren, mixes with the outside broadcast of the service.

In the church, under a picture of Mary, remains from the two world wars lie: rocket shrapnel, helmets, a shot-up aluminum water bottle. At the moment, however, every service in the Peter and Paul Church in Lviv is dedicated to the ongoing war in Ukraine: photos of the dead who came from this city in western Ukraine hang on a blackboard. Memories of war horrors.

From confession to the front

The visitors praise God and Ukraine. Victor sings too. After the service, the 29-year-old with the blond crew cut lights a candle. He received his call-up order from the Ukrainian army a few days ago. Viktor is afraid of the war; to die or be wounded. And now, after the bombing near Lviv, even more so.

Everyone is afraid, he says. Before going to the front, Viktor wanted to go to confession in order to be prepared in case he had to face his Maker. But he believes in victory over the Russian attackers; it is only a matter of time, losses and destruction.

On a busy street in downtown Lviv: Lubov wears lipstick, blue eyeshadow and a uniform. The 35-year-old has a clear idea of ​​war. You’ve seen battles before. They were scary. She took part in battles in Donetsk against pro-Russian separatists who were fighting for secession from Ukraine and an independent people’s republic.

When her unit was attacked, she fired back. Yes, that was self-defense, but still: It was people she fired at. And then her fear when grenades exploded.

Home comes first

Theoretically, Lubov continues, she could be one of several tens of thousands of soldiers to resign from the Ukrainian military. You have small children. But to hang up the uniform now would be shameful for her; home comes first. Since Lubov’s husband is also in the armed forces, the grandparents now take care of the children.

The shelves on the walls: Full of books. Works by Ukrainian writers alongside British, French, American and German writers. But nobody comes here to read: camouflage nets are being made in the lending library in Lviv today. In one room, volunteers knot them, in the other they knot strips of fabric into the mesh – in different shades of green.

Also Galina, a woman in her fifties, whose black hair is streaked with grey. When the Russian tanks rolled in, they left Kyiv and came to Lviv. Galina’s husband had to stay because he had an important job. She then went sightseeing in Lviv for a few days, but then wanted to do something meaningful.

Small works of art for soldiers

And that’s how, says Galina, she came to make camouflage nets with the other 120 volunteers in the library. The camouflage is only a minor matter in one room in the library: children are drawing here. A river, houses, sunset – that’s what twelve-year-old Valentina puts down on paper.

She draws her city, says Valentina, Kharkiv. From there she fled with her parents. Because of the war. She misses her city, so she draws it.

She and the other children, Valentina continues, drew pictures for soldiers at the front. They would get the little works of art along with the new camouflage nets; as a thank you for ensuring safety.

In Ukraine there are practically no voices to be heard demanding that the government in Kyiv give up. The attitude is clear: Despite all the fear, the people of Ukraine are fighting for their country. Either with arms – or by supporting the armed forces. Somehow.