The Best Posts of the Past Year
For new readers
In the past week I have had a huge surge of subscribers and followers. Thanks to all; it’s just a pity that the events driving interest in Ukraine have been so terrible.
I am returning to Ukraine in mid-March. To quote
(whose Substack very much worth a read): “Anna gets around to places and angles and people that most don’t”. I’ll do my best to keep that up. There’s so much more to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian resistance, than the headlines can show.In the meantime, for new readers, here are the best posts from the past year:
Interview at the DIY Bomb Factory
My recent post about the DIY bomb factory has garnered considerable interest, so I went back to Borya and Alina - as I will call them - to do a full interview.
Interview, with explosions
One morning a few days ago, Christian the nurse and I went to the room shared by Katya, Valya and Vera, so that Vera, who is bedridden, could do arm-strengthening exercises.
How Dangerous is Ukraine?
Of course, the answer varies by location. A village near the Hungarian border is safer than a trench on the frontline. What’s harder to grasp is ‘how dangerous’ places in between are, and what that might even mean, for ordinary people who just want to go about their daily lives and raise families without getting murdered.
Supplying the front lines: Masha the aid volunteer
This is Masha and she’s just as determined and together as she looks. She works as a fixer/supply sourcer/translator/driver alongside my friend Jack, so in view of the density of the Masha population in Ukraine (I personally know three), she’s known as Jack’s …
Soldier Town
You’ve probably guessed that this Substack has been operating with a bit of a time delay. For the past two weeks I’ve been in Donetsk region, volunteering with a supply and evacuation team, Universal Aid Ukraine.
It is really gratifying to see your hard and useful work acknowledged. It helpd Ukraine, and it helps us who are distant (and safe) to get an idea of the situation. Thank you.