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.
Category
ЁЯЧЮ
NewsTranscript
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.