The war in Ukraine is heartbreaking on so many levels … millions fleeing their once-tranquil homeland, and images from before the invasion show the brutality of Russian aggression.
Ukraine was a vibrant country before Vladimir Putin brought war to their land, and it’s interesting to look back at life for Ukrainians before they saw their cities bombed to ruins.
In a Spring without war, Mariinsky Park would serve as a romantic backdrop for a date … a popular place for people to gather, and even kiss on a park bench.
Putin’s invading Russian forces mean there’s no more bike rides through downtown Kyiv … which means Ukrainians are missing their annual Spring Festival Retro Cruise ride, where women liked to dress in retro outfits and tool around town.
We hear a lot now about the capital city, Kyiv, but Ukraine is so much more … there’s a beautiful town called Vylkove along the Danube Delta near the border with Romania, which is the Ukrainian version of Venice. The town’s streets are a bustling network of streams and canals, and folks would get around by boat.
And then, there’s Lviv, a popular tourist destination with its cobblestone streets and well preserved architecture.
Ukraine’s a beautiful country with lots of potential … and now it’s being reduced to rubble.