Dancing to Forget in Ukraine’s Capital City

In Kyiv, Ukrainians walk the line between festivity and fear. A drone flying a giant Ukrainian national flag passes over the Motherland monument. (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images) Turn any article into a podcast. Upgrade now to start listening. Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. KYIV, Ukraine—For Ukrainians, Monday represented two milestones—one somber, the other celebratory: four and a half years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and 35 years since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. Before the war, residents of Kyiv marked the latter event with massive parades and air force flyovers. Shiv Parihar is a writer who focuses on the intersection of sociology and international politics. Originally from the American West, he has previously written for a variety of outlets, including the Washington Post and National Review. More We Think You’d Like