Ukraine: War and Wonders – Cats and Dogs.

The Lviv Cat Cafe. Photo, the author (Mike Pole)

Today is the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On that day, pandemonium struck. People fled with a few belongings, often, only what they could carry – and typically their pets. Despite leaving their homes, perhaps for good, and having to absolutely prioritise – countless people chose to include their cats… Continue reading Ukraine: War and Wonders – Cats and Dogs.

Ukraine: War and Wonders – The Dnipro – Ukraine’s ‘National River’

The view across the Parkovy Pedestrian Bridge to Trukhaniv Island in the Dnipro River, Kyiv.

Rivers, big rivers. They can be political borders – think of the Rhine – when it marked the ‘civilised’ Roman Empire to the south, from the dark world of the ‘barbarians’ to the north. Or big rivers can become the arteries of countries. Think of the Mississippi. They can flicker back and forwards between these… Continue reading Ukraine: War and Wonders – The Dnipro – Ukraine’s ‘National River’