Driving through Ukraine today...

... little moments of peace and calm in difficult times.
A walk by the lake at Letychiv...

...a few lone fisherman at the end of piers, some of them close to collapse - the piers, not the fishermen!!

I found a new walk by the lake, near the end of which were two simple graves, one still decorated with flowers - evidently a couple, born in 1872 and 1888. Both lived fairly long lives, through two world wars and who knows what other conflicts. It seems that there are always conflicts.

 
Just a little past the graves, the path ended at a typical rural dwelling - no power lines in sight, an outside toilet, a few crops...
I imagined that the couple in the graves may have have lived their long lives, together, in this house...

Back to the reality of a long drive, arriving in Uman mid-afternoon. Very warm: 26°C.
I decided to fill the fuel tank with one of the 20 litre containers of diesel, brought from Poland. I'd already filled up with the 10 litre containers at the lakeside this morning - no problem. But 20 litres is a lot more difficult to lift for a not very big person - I'm afraid a few millilitres of diesel may have escaped, mainly over my sandals! I washed them in the shower but I may still have a whiff of diesel about me when I arrive in Odesa tomorrow!

Other realities: the sound of air raid sirens again  - this afternoon and this evening, not resulting in any attacks yet, as far as I'm aware. But Odesa region endured missile attacks again last night, targeted at the grain exporting port of Izmail, injuring two people and damaging infrastructure. The attacks on the grain warehouse in Odesa on Monday killed two people. 
And in Kherson, a number of people were injured in a Russian attack this morning. 

This walkway in Uman commemorates some of the city's soldiers, who have lost their lives in the full Russian invasion.

Finally, a wish for safe travel to Anna and Artem, returning from Ukraine to our house in Trawden. 


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