Terror from the skies - and life - continue...

In the early hours of Friday morning the Russian terrorist state launched over 60 drones and nearly 90 missiles, of various types, to attack all of Ukraine. The targets were power plants and energy supply lines, the largest hydroelectric dam in the country and residential buildings. Even a trolleybus was hit. More than 1 million people were without power; there was extensive damage, and deaths and injuries.

This wasn't the first attack over the last week, of course, but energy infrastructure was hit in the Lviv region, too, showing people that they really can't feel safe anywhere, which, of course, is an aim of terrorism. 

Another major attack came last night (actually early this morning), mainly targetting Kyiv and Lviv region again.  The local air alert lasted for almost three hours. The Russian army repeatedly struck critical infrastructure in Lviv region, with cruise missiles and attack drones. Not long afterwards, about 9:30 a.m., another air raid siren sounded and the Russians hit the same infrastructure again. Fortunately, the rescuers who were extinguishing the fire from the previous attack, received the message in time and moved to safety.

Russia also violated Poland’s airspace with a cruise missile that “entered Polish space near the town of Oserdow (Lublin Voivodeship) and stayed there for 39 seconds.”

Once again, Ukraine has urged its partners to provide it with the additional air defense equipment it desperately needs, as soon as possible.

This morning a Ukrainian English/German teacher and I held our first English Speaking Club in a library near Lviv city centre. The translation of the poster advertising this group was quite funny, I thought. But maybe I need a Ukrainian translator for a more accurate version?

Three women attended, all professionals who want to improve their English for work purposes. There should have been three more attendees but they thought the club started at 12, instead of finishing!

Credit to those who made it, given the disturbance of last night. Nearly everyone in the group said that they had taken shelter, in basements or underground car parks, fearing (rightly) that there was going to be a big attack, as Putin had targetted nearly every other major city in Ukraine this week.

It was an interesting and enjoyable meeting. Everyone had their stories. Three out of four have been displaced due to the war - from Kyiv and Kharkiv. Having to leave your home means, of course, also leaving your job behind. But they are all rebuilding lives in Lviv and we talked about the places we like best in this city, some of which I didn't know and will try to visit. I also learned that two of my favourite places - Lychakiv Cemetery and Striskyi Park - were designed by the same person.

I'm continuing to make energy bars, which seems to be the most needed volunteer job that I've found, so far. I'm becoming quite an expert!

The death toll in the Russian concert hall shooting on Friday has risen to 137.  Even with this terrible event in his own country, Putin's cynicism knows no bounds. Islamic State has clearly claimed responsibility and US intelligence had given warnings to Russia 2 weeks previously. But Putin is determinedly pursuing a Ukrainian link. According to the Guardian news website, Meduza, an independent Russian-language website, has reported that Russian state-funded and pro-government media had been instructed by the Putin administration, to emphasise possible 'traces' of Ukrainian involvement in the massacre.

On a lighter note, in today's English group we were talking about colloquial language - try explaining, "It's raining cats and dogs!"

On my return home, via the city centre, I stopped at a stand outside the military cathedral, where volunteers were selling homemade cakes. Sometimes you hear perfect English in the unlikeliest of places...after managing to ask for a piece of apple cake in my very limited Ukrainian, one of the volunteers said, "Which piece is speaking to you?" There's a colloquialism...it was the biggest piece, of course!

This evening Anna, the volunteer English teacher, invited me to a performance of classical favourites at the lovely, historic Organ Hall, close to where I live. It was very good - lively enthusiastic...

 ...performed by the Luhansk Regional Philharmonic Academic Orchestra, which seemed quite poignant. It was a nice ending to a day that didn't start very well, and also a testament to the spirit of Ukraine that the important things in life continue.