“They attacked our school once, and a missile came flying toward us. The firefighters came. I started crying. When I got home, I didn’t cry anymore.” Seven-year-old Alex knows what Russian attacks sound like. But some of his classmates don’t even know what fireworks are. In Kyiv, explosions and air raid sirens are more familiar to kids these days.
Active-duty Ukraine’s service members, veterans, adaptive athletes, and international competitors gathered in Kyiv for “IDU NA VY: Tryzna,” an international Mix Martial Arts (MMA) tournament organized by the Third Army Corps and Veteran Corps. Held to honor fallen Ukrainian warriors, the event brought together military and civilian fighters for an evening of combat sports, including martial arts duels and medieval knight battles.
“What’s the name of those creatures in Harry Potter that Luna Lovegood says only appear to you after you’ve seen death? Well, whatever they are, we’re all gonna be seeing them now forever.”