00:01In parking lots on the outskirts of Kyiv, 31-year-old Alex spends his nights drifting through clouds of tire
00:08smoke.
00:09Alex spent nearly a decade in Russian captivity as a civilian detainee before being released in a prisoner exchange last
00:16May.
00:17I spent 10 years living with negative emotions, and now I'm finally trying to let them out.
00:23And it's working, thanks to this one.
00:25I want to keep driving, change the engine, and compete in drifting competitions.
00:30There's something to strive for.
00:34Late-night drifting gatherings in Kyiv draw drivers and spectators who film spinning cars on their phones as engines echo
00:41across darkened lots.
00:43Participants say the scene offers a brief escape from the pressures of life during Russia's war in Ukraine.
00:48Since Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrainians have endured frequent air attacks, economic hardship, and tighter wartime restrictions.
01:00Drivers say the war has transformed their community.
01:03Many enthusiasts have left Ukraine, while others have given up the hobby due to ongoing hardships, said Matib, a 22
01:11-year-old drifter.
01:12Since the war began, everything has become much harder, especially drifting.
01:17It's not so legal.
01:18Fuel prices and spare parts have become much more expensive.
01:22There are also stricter measures from the police, military, and so on.
01:30Still, those who remain say the group is close-knit, with drivers helping each other keep cars running and events
01:36alive.
01:37The war's intensity shows no sign of easing.
01:40On Sunday, Russian officials said at least four people were killed after Ukraine launched its biggest overnight drone attack on
01:47Moscow in more than a year.
01:49Kyiv said the strikes targeted Russian energy and military infrastructure.
01:53Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks as Russia continues missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities.
02:00As the conflict grinds on, Alex and other drivers say the gatherings offer a rare space to focus on something
02:07beyond the war.
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