Despite All The Promises Of Peace - May 7th 2025

May 7th 2025

Yuriy recounts the daily struggles of living in Kharkiv, a city near the Russian border, which faces relentless attacks from ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones, leading to widespread destruction and the construction of underground schools to protect children.

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TRANSCRIPT: (Apple Podcasts & Podbean app users can enjoy accurate closed captions)  

It is May 7th.

I spent a few days in Kharkiv, my hometown, located just a few dozen miles from the Russian border. At the start of the invasion, the Russians shelled the city with artillery- the shells could reach several districts, killing civilians there. During those attacks, my parents narrowly escaped death. Today, kharkiv is no longer being hit by artillery. As soon as the Russian guns are brought into position, they are immediately destroyed.

Now the city is under daily attacks from ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones.

These drones are aimed at residential neighborhoods, each carrying several hundred kilograms of explosives. On top of that, the Russians strap large amounts of nails to them. After the explosion, the nails scatter at bullet speed, killing or maiming everyone in their path. I had a few days off and my comrades and I were allowed to stay at home- in the apartment that has stood empty since my parents were evacuated three years ago. It has several rooms with windows facing two different directions. One side faces directly toward the Russian border. I call it the drone side because that were only direction the drones come from when we slam into buildings.

The other side- I call the ballistic side- the Russians launch ballistic missiles in a way that target whatever the drones can't reach. Dozens of drones and missiles hit the city each day. There are almost daily casualties and destruction. Constant destruction. You walk through the city and see ruined buildings smoke from fires caused by the strikes craters in the asphalt from missiles and cars shredded by shrapnel. The windows of homes are blown out everywhere, and the smell of burning is always in the air.

But this is how it has always been for all three years of this full scale war. Kharkiv has lived like this. And yet there is a big change. Schools are now being built all over the city, but these aren't the kinds of schools you and I went to. These are underground schools. Huge excavation pits, house classrooms with several meters of reinforced concrete, crushed stone, and other materials above them- meant to protect students from missiles, shells, and drones. And this construction continues at full speed despite all the promises of peace, despite all the hopes that the war will end soon.

Underground schools. Children spending years of their lives in basements- this is when you normal for towns near a Russian border. Because if your neighbors are murderers, you cannot live like other people do. You must protect what matters most- the children.

And finally. I've written a new post on Substack. It's about Trump. Give it a read, and there are already a bunch of other pieces where as well. I'm sure you'll find something interesting. The link is in the description. Thank you.

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
It is May 7th.
I spent a few days in Kharkiv, myhometown, located just a few dozen
miles from the Russian border.
At the start of the invasion, theRussians shelled the city with
artillery- the shells could reach severaldistricts, killing civilians there.
During those attacks, myparents narrowly escaped death.

(00:25):
Today, kharkiv is no longerbeing hit by artillery.
As soon as the Russian gunsare brought into position,
they are immediately destroyed.
Now the city is under daily attacks fromballistic missiles and kamikaze drones.
These drones are aimed at residentialneighborhoods, each carrying several

(00:46):
hundred kilograms of explosives.
On top of that, the Russians straplarge amounts of nails to them.
After the explosion, the nailsscatter at bullet speed, killing
or maiming everyone in their path.
I had a few days off and my comrades andI were allowed to stay at home- in the

(01:07):
apartment that has stood empty since myparents were evacuated three years ago.
It has several rooms with windowsfacing two different directions.
One side faces directlytoward the Russian border.
I call it the drone side because thatwere only direction the drones come

(01:27):
from when we slam into buildings.
The other side- I call the ballisticside- the Russians launch ballistic
missiles in a way that targetwhatever the drones can't reach.
Dozens of drones and missileshit the city each day.
There are almost dailycasualties and destruction.

(01:49):
Constant destruction.
You walk through the city and see ruinedbuildings smoke from fires caused by
the strikes craters in the asphalt frommissiles and cars shredded by shrapnel.
The windows of homes are blownout everywhere, and the smell
of burning is always in the air.
But this is how it has always been forall three years of this full scale war.

(02:13):
Kharkiv has lived like this.
And yet there is a big change.
Schools are now being built allover the city, but these aren't the
kinds of schools you and I went to.
These are underground schools.
Huge excavation pits, houseclassrooms with several meters

(02:35):
of reinforced concrete, crushedstone, and other materials above
them- meant to protect studentsfrom missiles, shells, and drones.
And this construction continuesat full speed despite all the
promises of peace, despite all thehopes that the war will end soon.

(02:55):
Underground schools.
Children spending years of their livesin basements- this is when you normal
for towns near a Russian border.
Because if your neighbors are murderers,you cannot live like other people do.
You must protect whatmatters most- the children.
And finally.

(03:15):
I've written a new post on Substack.
It's about Trump.
Give it a read, and there are alreadya bunch of other pieces where as well.
I'm sure you'll findsomething interesting.
The link is in the description.
Thank you.