Ukrainians try to look forward to Christmas

DW (English)

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches its third anniversary, the toll is visible across the country. Every day, families bury loved ones who've been killed. But many are also trying to create a festive atmosphere for the Christmas holidays.

Transcript

00:00No parent should have to bury their child. Yet here in Kharkiv, it happens every day.

00:07This woman had to wait for more than a year for this.

00:11The Russians only recently handed over the body of her son, Alexei.

00:17He will always be with us. His spirit will remain with us forever.

00:29These are the graves of Ukraine's soldiers.

00:37How many have died remains a secret.

00:40But this part of the cemetery has just been extended.

00:46In the grand scheme of things, a soldier's death is a statistic.

00:51For family, it's everything.

00:56I don't understand anything yet. I need to come to my senses to understand.

01:03It's empty without him. I'm proud of him. I always miss him.

01:15Close by, a group of family and friends tend the grave of Andriy.

01:20He volunteered in the summer and died in the winter.

01:25Killed during his second combat mission.

01:29The group brought flowers and a can of his favorite beer.

01:34They took everything. Andriy was a good person.

01:38He was cheerful, kind, the soul of the company.

01:44They talk about his love for life.

01:47How he coached the children's football team.

01:50And how the war has changed them.

01:54We are united by love for our country.

01:58Maybe if the enemy hadn't come, we wouldn't understand how much we love Ukraine.

02:03We hate the enemy who came, who destroyed our country,

02:06who makes our children and grandchildren orphans.

02:09We will never ever forgive.

02:12Many people, like Andriy and Alexey, have been killed trying to defend their country.

02:22As the prospect of a fourth year of war looms, many are asking how much longer they can keep going,

02:28with the country slowly burning out and the future of Allied support unclear.

02:35Even so, this Christmas, Kharkiv is full of light.

02:41They've been absent for the last two years, but now the decorations are back.

02:48In the safety of the metro, St. Nicholas welcomes children and parents to enjoy music and dance.

03:05And for a time, to think about other things.

03:13We must do this so that our children, even in such terrible times,

03:19for Kharkiv, for Ukraine, at least for one hour, that the children forget about it.

03:28His spell seems to work on the adults, too.

03:32This is a miracle, in which we believe that peace and quiet will soon come.

03:38We believe in miracles just like children. We want to believe in it.

03:44The children's wishes this year are simple.

03:49To go to the sea.

03:52That the war ends.

03:55But some may prove more complicated to fulfill than others.

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