This light can never be taken from us. Kyiv, December 24, 2025

Carols in the Kyiv metro. Sending you a bit of Christmas spirit from Ukraine.

Greetings from Kyiv! Today and tomorrow, I just want to show you beauty – let’s hope the war allows it. May this Christmas time be kind and generous to you. (In the video: the gallery I visited yesterday.)

It stands. Free, proud, and strong. Greetings from Kyiv to the sane part of the world.

When the mood is grey, I look for beauty. Visited a gallery today. Now, there’s an air raid alert in Kyiv. I’m in the city centre, having a warcoffee and choosing books. When the mood is grey…

Greetings from Kyiv. Morning began with missiles. My train to visit my mom left without me – I couldn’t leave my dearest ones during the attack. Mom said her whole town is without power. Slept poorly. Warcoffee time. More missiles on the way.

Late evening in Kyiv. I made a warcoffee. We’ve been warned about a massive missile and drone attack tonight. Nothing to add to this reality check.

Greetings from Kyiv! I’ve been busy arranging a short trip to visit my mom for Christmas. Or maybe I won’t go. We have a crazy neighbor – you can guess which one. So I just pretend the trip is planned.

Ukrainian traditions on Christmas Eve. Many have faded over time, but some are slowly returning, like the Didukh (I even bought one instead of a Christmas tree this year). Sunday Letter (please like or share, posts with links reach fewer people): www.patreon.com/posts/sunday...

I love these Christmas decorations. You might even spot them in your own country – the brand takes part in fairs around the world. 🇺🇦 Koza Dereza

Greetings from Kyiv! I’ve been a bit quiet today – all is fine. Prepared the Sunday Letter, had some rest, and saw nothing new. Hope you’re doing well.

Calm night in Kyiv. Wishing for calm nights across Ukraine (and the world). See you tomorrow.

Looks like I’ve found a new hobby – visiting local markets and discovering little treasures. Even if my posts help Ukrainian artisans just a tiny bit, I’m happy. They deserve to be seen. Just look at these cuties I saw today.

Spotted in Kyiv today – the Christmas Tree of Light, made from the uniforms of DTEK energy workers (Ukraine’s largest private energy company). A symbol of gratitude to all who keep our lights on.

Greetings from Kyiv! Just wanted to remind the world that this city (oh, this country) stands. Filmed earlier today – from my eyes to yours.

I’ll post this here and everywhere I educate the world about Ukraine. I’ve met truly fantastic people on BlueSky – caring, kind, and generous. You are my light on the darkest days. You support my work, like my posts no matter what I write, and remind me: come on, girl, you’re not alone. 🫂

Saw it today in the Kyiv metro. Do you remember my latest Sunday Letter about the Goat Ritual? Here it is. I’ll leave the link below as a reminder.

Greetings from Kyiv. Today, I took my supporters on a real-time walk through the Bessarabska Market. Thank you to everyone who joined If you’d like to join future live events, become my supporter on Patreon – and if you truly can’t afford it, tell me. I’ll gift you a subscription.

Kyiv at night, gently wrapped in a thick blanket of fog. Calm and beautiful.

It’s after 10 pm in Kyiv. Power is back. I must say, outages aren’t as bad as last week – until the next attack, as we say here. I’m making a cup of late warcoffee. Because I want it.

While waiting for the power to return, let me show you these candles — their natural honey scent is so rich that even a non-honey person like me was pleasantly surprised. And their slogan? Perfect. Made in Ukraine.

Greetings from Kyiv. Soon, I’ll send the invitation for a live walk – a real-time walk through Kyiv happening tomorrow. The time will be in the invite and on my Patreon. The location stays secret until we start. Exclusive gratitude for my Patreon supporters 🫂

Just a beautiful moment in Kyiv – because life goes on.

Yesterday, I told you about the Didukh, a traditional Ukrainian Christmas symbol made of grain. Today, I’m showing you works by a different artisan, and they’re stunning. Should I continue sharing Ukrainian artisans and traditions?

Greetings from Kyiv, with warcoffee during another regular power outage. Somehow, I’ve grown to love this ritual of coffee outside. It’s not about desperate acceptance of reality – it’s about love for life.

An air raid alert is on in Kyiv, and I’m showing you the Didukh. A traditional Ukrainian Christmas symbol made of grain sheaves, it is brought into the home on Christmas Eve and represents ancestors, family continuity, and gratitude for the harvest.

They say this painting is kept in the kremlin and hidden from public view. moscow on Fire, 1851 🇺🇦 Ivan Aivazovsky

Greetings from Kyiv. Today, I visited the exhibition Art is Everywhere – showcasing prints by Ukrainian artists, past and present. It’s held at the Central Department Store (yes!), and everyone can buy an art print there. I love this idea.

Why three candles together? A traditional Ukrainian three-candle holder (Svichnyk-Triytsia), symbolizing the Holy Trinity. Used on major feast days, it was a sacral object, not decoration. The three flames lit together were believed to bring protection, harmony, and blessing to the home.

Maybe you’ve already heard the good news. Ukraine’s Security Service blew up a russian submarine with Sub Sea Baby drones – the first time in history. It carried Kalibr missiles used to strike Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv.

Life should be like that. When childhood is joyful, when lights shine not only in hearts but also on the streets. Seen today in Kyiv. They have snow near one of the skating rinks.

Greetings from Kyiv, where I’m having a warcoffee in a beautiful bookstore. I haven’t shown it to you yet – but it already feels like a new favourite place.

Ukraine is home to many talented people. This young artisan from the Carpathians is one of them – just look at her work (especially her vyshyvanka 🤩)

There’s an old Ukrainian folk tradition – the ritual of leading the goat during the Christmas and New Year holidays. My new Sunday Letter tells about it, along with a few of my reflections on the things I share. Free to read www.patreon.com/posts/sunday...

Greetings from Kyiv, where there’s no power at home, but snow outside. It’s the first snow of the winter season.

Seen at the Kurazh Market in Kyiv. Handwoven pieces made from pine needles.

This man with a sign ‘Hugs warm you up’ offered free hugs at the Christmas market today. Kurazh Market is one of the best in Kyiv. It happens about once a month and celebrates Ukrainian craftsmanship and spirit.

Today, I took my Patreon supporters to a Christmas market in Kyiv (sorry for such a spontaneous idea). Why only supporters? It was very crowded – not safe for open live events. I didn’t buy anything, but supported them ⬇️ on behalf of our warcoffee family.

I have a suggestion for my Patreon supporters. I’m at the Christmas market right now and want to invite you to a spontaneous live walk (in real time) through it. In an hour, at 3:30 pm Kyiv time.

Greetings from Kyiv, where the night was not calm. russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, mainly targeting the southern regions. I had a warcoffee.

1:09 am in Kyiv. Calm is over. Missiles. Every Friday night 🙄

Victory (still a cat) sends her greetings from a quiet night in Kyiv. We caught the moment when the power went off.

What you see is a motanka – a traditional Ukrainian protective doll. Made by winding fabric, not sewing. It has no face – to avoid giving it an identity or inviting a soul. Instead, a sun cross marks balance and protection. Maybe your culture has something similar?

It was the sweetest moment I’ve witnessed during the war.

The Bethlehem Light of Peace An international scouting tradition that began in Austria in 1986 and takes place before Christmas. A symbolic flame shared worldwide as a sign of peace. This year, Plast (the Ukrainian scouting organisation) also brought the light to a bookstore in Kyiv 🇺🇦

Greetings from Kyiv, where I’m having a warcoffee in a bookstore and waiting for something I want to show you soon.

Seen at the Christmas market. A vyshyvanka - traditional 🇺🇦 Ukrainian embroidery

I just read that trump claimed 82% of Ukrainians demand a peace settlement. No. That’s a lie. A Ukrainian is speaking.

Yesterday, I showed you some items in the Petrykivka style. The key figure behind this art is 🇺🇦 Tetiana Pata (1884–1976). She taught an entire generation of artists, making sure Petrykivka would survive and flourish. Some of her works

Let me explain what you see. It is a traditional Ukrainian pavuk (spider) – a Christmas-season decoration made of straw and hung from the ceiling. Shaped like a light floating sculpture, the pavuk was believed to keep the home in balance, absorb anything negative, and bring harmony to the family