After 10 weeks in Ukraine, mostly in the east, I’m getting on a train to Poland, from where I’ll fly to London. I always feel conflicted when leaving, but particularly so this time. I’ve grown attached to Kramatorsk in particular, and I don’t know if it will be possible to go there any more when I return in autumn. Nobody thinks the city is going to be occupied any time soon, but the Russians can obliterate it with drones, rockets and guided bombs. And they are currently engaged in doing just that.
But I’ve done what I can for now. A number of grassroots Ukrainian volunteer groups there are better-funded and supported, sometimes substantially so, because of connections I’ve helped them make over the past two months. Thank you to everyone who donates or spreads the word.
I have also done a number of non-time-sensitive interviews and the plan is that these will continue to be published once a week, on Sunday.
In the meantime, I have to mention every now and then that I have a book out. If you enjoy the blog for more than just the pure informational content you’ll probably enjoy my poetry too.
Buy it from the publisher, or at your favourite online outlet.
I’ll leave you with one of my favourite photos from the last couple of months, in a very bittersweet way:
2026 Donbas aeshetic: anti-drone nets, burnt-out van, first-aid kit (the lump on the top right), drone detector (the screen with the antennae) and a hand clutching a rifle. Topped off by the random Lada trundling along in spite of it all.
So everything’s gone to hell but people are still trying to live their lives – and you can see the purpose in the hand clutching the rifle, which is for shooting down drones. It’s Vlad the fireman from Kramatorsk, heading to evacuate civilians from Druzhkivka on his day off. Bogdan Zuyahkov is in the driving seat. I am sandwiched in the middle wondering how I got there and trying to make it count.
While I’m enjoying the lack of killer drones in London, Bogdan and his team will be out there day after day. I’d like to go back to a peaceful Kramatorsk, but failing that I’ll settle for the city continuing to stand, and those who wish to evacuate managing to do so. Please support Bogdan, Vlad and the team at their colleague Ben Kochenburger’s fundraiser.
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