KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — For tens of millions of Ukrainians, a lot of them under Russian bombardment and grappling with power and water shortages, Latest Yr’s celebrations might be muted as Russia’s 10-month war rumbles on ad infinitum.
But for some families, it’s a probability to reunite, nonetheless briefly, after months apart.
At Kyiv’s central railway station on Saturday morning, Mykyta, still in his uniform, gripped a bouquet of pink roses tightly as he waited on platform 9 for his wife Valeriia to reach from Poland. He hadn’t seen her in six months.
“It actually was really tough, , to attend so long,” he told The Associated Press after hugging and kissing Valeriia.
Nearby, one other soldier, Vasyl Khomko, 42, joyously met his daughter Yana and wife Galyna who’ve been living in Slovakia on account of the war, but returned to Kyiv to spend Latest Yr’s Eve together.
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The mood contrasted starkly with that from 10 months ago when families were torn apart by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Back in February, fathers, husbands and sons had to remain behind as their wives, moms and daughters boarded trains with young children searching for safety outside the country. Scenes of tearful goodbyes seared television screens and front pages of newspaper the world over.
But on the last day of the yr marked by the brutal war, many returned to the capital to spend Latest Yr’s Eve with their family members.
As Russian attacks proceed to focus on power supplies leaving tens of millions without electricity, no big celebrations are expected and a curfew might be in place because the clock rings in the brand new yr. But for many Ukrainians being along with their families is already a luxury.
Valeriia first sought refuge from the conflict in Spain but later moved to Poland. Asked what their Latest Yr’s Eve plans were, she answered simply: “Simply to be together.”
The couple declined to not share their family name for security reasons as Mykyta has been fighting on the front lines in each southern and eastern Ukraine.
On platform 8, one other young couple reunited. University student Arseniia Kolomiiets, 23, has been living in Italy. Despite longing to see her boyfriend Daniel Liashchenko in Kyiv, Kolomiiets was petrified of Russian missiles and drone attacks.
“He was like, ‘Please come! Please come! Please come!’” she recalled. “I made a decision that (being) scared is one part, but being with beloved ones on the vacations is a very powerful part. So, I overcome my fear and here I’m now.”
Although they haven’t any electricity at home, Liashchenko said they were looking forward to welcoming 2023 together along with his family and their cat.
In an try and ensure residents have light during their celebrations, the regional government of Ukraine’s southwestern Odesa province is planning to limit the work of probably the most energy-intensive industries on Dec. 31 and Jan 1.
Regional head Maksym Marchenko made the announcement on Friday via Telegram, and said that power engineers within the province had used all means possible to “eliminate the implications” of Russia’s barrage of attacks on Ukraine on Thursday and reinstate the facility supply.
In Kyiv, recent attacks have left many on edge, unsure about whether the skies might be peaceful on the last day of the yr.
“We hope there might be no surprises today,” said Natalya Kontonenko who had traveled from Finland. It was the primary time she had seen her brother Serhii Kontonenko because the full-scale invasion began on Feb. 24. Serhii and other relatives traveled from Mykolaiv to Kyiv to satisfy Natalya.
“We will not be concerned concerning the electricity, because we’re together and that I believe is a very powerful,” he said.
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