Destruction in a beautiful place....

Following some information we were given, we decided to visit a town that the Russians tried to take in March 2022. For a month it was bombarded and shelled by Russian soldiers. It was never actually taken. The word 'soldiers' is not warranted after what they did in this small town of about 9000 residents - Makariv. Murderers more like. The war crimes tribunal are looking into the actions perpetrated by the invaders. They killed over 200 people, many in cold blood. A mirror of what happened in Bucha, not so many miles away. An elderly couple trying to leave the town in their car were simply shot. Other bodies were found with shots to the head and hands tied behind their backs.
We saw many homes and buildings destroyed.  
We went went into the school that had been badly damaged, with no teaching there for now. We met the principle who was doing a virtual lesson with children. 
Afterwards she gave us a brief tour of the school. Much of it damaged, currently trying to be repaired by the Ukrainian Red Cross. Floors and ceilings still missing. So much still to do, meanwhile the children miss yet another year of face to face learning.
And this is the beauty of this ordinary town on a river.....
It did seem as if the town was trying to get some semblance of normality again....it may take a long time to heal the wounds, both physical and mental.
But the beauty of this place might help.

This morning we set off,  at what seemed to be even earlier than 'sparrow's fart' to deliver aid. It was a long day, with over 600 kilometres covered. We dropped the aid with a group of volunteers in Kyiv who will distribute it further, some amongst local people in need; the rest will go to Bakhmut area, where the need is immense. The aid was all, by and large, provided in south Wales and brought across to Ukraine by Shaun with his organisation UK4UA.
We were also able to give over the paints obtained by Magda for the young painter we are trying to support. We are sure she will make good use of it. We also were given the painting that we are currently auctioning in Trawden. I have to say, in real life it's even better than I thought....a photo tomorrow will follow.
We ended up back in Vinnytsia for the night. Every journey we make, we see and learn something new. We get, but a brief glimpse into people's lives. Moments and memories shared. Also, sometimes, a sense of what the future might bring. After the war ends, Ukraine can not revert to what it previously was. A fairly corrupt and unequal society. We can only hope for better days.
And, as usual, most days, something to make me smile.....not quite an anorak but I love trams. I have no idea why, but they always make me feel a little bit more at peace.....

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