Life in Ukraine

The first thing that catches your eye when you enter Kharkiv’s Northern Saltivka district is the desolation—burned-out buildings, empty courtyards. No wonder: it’s just less than an hour drive from the Russian border, well within range of nearly every weapon in the Kremlin’s arsenal.

The debate over the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions has reached a critical point of engagement. In response to a hastily passed law, the Ukrainian government proposed a new alternative bill, aiming to eliminate threats to Ukraine’s fight against corruption. Yet, challenges remain.

In the early hours of July 20, Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Britain’s Daniel Dubois and once again became the undisputed world champion. This is the third time he has held all the major boxing belts—something no one has ever done before. But this is far from the first record set by Ukrainian athletes in boxing.

After Russian bombs struck her Kyiv maternity hospital, heavily pregnant Olesia was forced to flee—beginning a 13,000-kilometer odyssey that saw her give birth in New York just days after appearing on CNN to urge the world to protect Ukrainian children. All the while, her heart remained in Kyiv.

Ukraine during wartime is a striking example of how an entire society can learn to save lives. Ukrainians have taken first aid courses en masse: from soldiers in the Armed Forces and volunteers to taxi drivers and teachers. Even thousands of kilometers from the front line, that knowledge is already saving lives.

A rally organized by five women in Kyiv grew into Ukraine’s most recognizable civic activism campaign, gaining global traction and offering hope to the families of the missing.