REFLECTION: Kyiv has the Blitz 2, and it’s bigger and badder

I remain in Kyiv and the very first thing I need to state aloud: THERE ARE NO RUSSIANS HERE. No, Niks, Zlich, Klum. Nada. And I like it. I do not like Russians at all. They are battle Kyiv and the other parts of Ukraine non-stop. I have actually heard surges all week, actually every couple of hours. The other day, on Saturday afternoon, I was strolling in the city centre and a ballistic rocket was shot down straight above where I and a lot of individuals were standing. I need to have leapt a metre in the air. Did everybody else on the street. One never ever gets utilized to this evil. It is loud, demanding and extremely frightening.

Now, before somebody reading this begins playing together with the Russian propaganda (which is very efficient) I will be the very first to state, yes, there is corruption in Ukraine and individuals here are extremely upset about it. If you wish to discuss corruption then concentrate on Donald Trump and his buddies due to the fact that they are the leaders by a mile. Corruption has actually constantly remained in Ukraine and things have actually been improving every year. The issue here is not corruption– it is that the Russians have actually been attempting to clean out Ukrainians for nearly 5 years. And it will just end when Vladimir Putin passes away. That day can not come quickly enough. And might Trump be gone too by that time. They are both evil.

When I am not in Kyiv I remain in London. We have actually been there for more than a year and a half and when you talk with some older folk they keep in mind the Blitz throughout World War 2. They offered it a name. Kyiv has the Blitz too, or the Blitz 2, and it is larger and badder. Everybody here hopes it will end, however with Europe being half sleeping and with Trump siding with Putin, things are more difficult than ever for Ukraine. It is harsh and unreasonable, however having stated that, I do not hear victims here. Simply brave souls who enjoy life.

I remain in Kyiv hanging out at “home”, seeing pals, attempting to support different jobs, and likewise we are dealing with Kyiv of Mine, a documentary task, which began in 2018. Life in Ukraine’s capital has actually altered significantly in the previous 8 years, as you can think of.

This weekend the weather condition has actually been charming and the city is hectic. You see individuals running, bicyclists, kids running around, animals being strolled, buzzing cafés … life goes on. Absolutely nothing here is regular. Ukrainians are passing away to keep the evil at bay. They are suffering and they are tired. They are likewise brave and will never ever offer up.

Profession=death. That is what Ukrainians comprehend. There is no option here. They will not live under Russian guideline ever once again.

No one here wants to hear about “good Russians”. I totally support this. Russians all voted for Putin and he won recently in what looked like a landslide victory. When you are in London you see/hear Russians everywhere. Ask them who their friends and family back in Russia voted for. I rest my case.

The thing I really don’t understand is how certain politicians can be pro-Putin or pro-Russian. Marine Le Pen in France is a prime example. If she wins next year this is bad news for everyone. How can anyone support an evil murderer like Putin?! If I was a mass murderer would you support me?! I don’t think so.

There are Russian tourists all over Europe and other hotspots of the world. It is shameful. In my view it all goes back to America. There is zero pressure put on Putin and Trump is always lashing out at Volodymyr Zelensky, as he did this weekend, which took Trump to an all-time low. But I am sure he will go much lower. The craziness is going to get a lot more crazy. Just wait for the midterms. The writing is on the wall.

Something to believe in

As I write this there is a drone strike under way. I stay away from the windows, but I can hear explosions in the distance. A few hours ago the building shook a wee bit from a blast wave. Winter is a big talking point here. It is not far away and people are worried. Last winter was seriously rough and it will get worse. I don’t believe Ukraine is going to fall apart, and I have faith that good will triumph over evil, but if you look at the raw data, things do not look good. How will Kyiv get through the winter if the heating systems are hit and if the electricity supply is diminished. Can it all eventually stop working? What if the water infrastructure ceases to function and you can’t flush the toilet. Again, no one believes this will happen, but this is what the Russians are trying to do. Putin would kill everyone here if he had the chance. And if you are in the West and you are reading this, then understand something: he would kill you too if he had the chance. His regime hates all of us in the free world.

Being in Kyiv is hard on the nerves and it is dangerous, but it is good for the soul. Things here are very black-and-white. This place gives one something to believe in – something good. If you are in America, say, and you are reading this, then what do you believe in? Is life really all about power and money?

To understand life in Kyiv during 2026 please watch the latest chapter of

No one here wants to hear about “good Russians”. I totally support this. Russians all voted for Putin and he won recently in what looked like a landslide victory. When you are in London you see/hear Russians everywhere. Ask them who their friends and family back in Russia voted for. I rest my case.

The thing I really don’t understand is how certain politicians can be pro-Putin or pro-Russian. Marine Le Pen in France is a prime example. If she wins next year this is bad news for everyone. How can anyone support an evil murderer like Putin?! If I was a mass murderer would you support me?! I don’t think so.

There are Russian tourists all over Europe and other hotspots of the world. It is shameful. In my view it all goes back to America. There is zero pressure put on Putin and Trump is always lashing out at Volodymyr Zelensky, as he did this weekend, which took Trump to an all-time low. But I am sure he will go much lower. The craziness is going to get a lot more crazy. Just wait for the midterms. The writing is on the wall.

Something to believe in

As I write this there is a drone strike under way. I stay away from the windows, but I can hear explosions in the distance. A few hours ago the building shook a wee bit from a blast wave. Winter is a big talking point here. It is not far away and people are worried. Last winter was seriously rough and it will get worse. I don’t believe Ukraine is going to fall apart, and I have faith that good will triumph over evil, but if you look at the raw data, things do not look good. How will Kyiv get through the winter if the heating systems are hit and if the electricity supply is diminished. Can it all eventually stop working? What if the water infrastructure ceases to function and you can’t flush the toilet. Again, no one believes this will happen, but this is what the Russians are trying to do. Putin would kill everyone here if he had the chance. And if you are in the West and you are reading this, then understand something: he would kill you too if he had the chance. His regime hates all of us in the free world.

Being in Kyiv is hard on the nerves and it is dangerous, but it is good for the soul. Things here are very black-and-white. This place gives one something to believe in – something good. If you are in America, say, and you are reading this, then what do you believe in? Is life really all about power and money?

To understand life in Kyiv during 2026 please watch the latest chapter of Kyiv of Mine: The light that stays

After 8 months of work it went live on 24 August, Ukraine’s Independence Day. I motivate you all to view it.

Sure, it is great deals of enjoyable to reside on an ostrich farm, however think about where unpunished terrorism might result in. Among my worries presently is that the policies of the West are progressing at handling the repercussions of Russian aggressiveness than at altering the calculus that is driving it forward. DM

Ronnie Apteker is a South African web leader, author and movie manufacturer.