Kyiv enjoys spring as focus shifts to Middle East conflict

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  Christiaan Paauwe

  correspondent Midden- en Oost-Europa

A couple enjoys a sunny day with their daughter in Kyiv’s Partizan Glory Park. On the way back, the little girl has to stop as melting snow blocks her path. She dismounts her scooter, lifts it over the snow, and continues.

Spring has arrived, clearly visible in the Park of the Partisan Glory in Kyiv. The temperature is 15 degrees Celsius, a stark contrast to the -20 degrees Celsius or colder experienced just weeks ago. Combined with large-scale Russian air attacks that disrupted the energy infrastructure, this created the harshest winter Ukraine has seen to date.

The warmer weather is therefore a welcome change, especially on the left bank of Kyiv, which was heavily affected. Although, as Kyiv enjoys the first spring days, international attention shifts to a modern conflict: the one in the Middle East.

Joelia, 41, is relieved the winter is over. She runs a beauty salon and is taking a walk in the park with her son and elderly mother. “This feels really good,” she says with a big smile. The power problems in her apartment have largely been resolved. And the heating is working again. However, Joelia’s son is still not attending school, as the heating there is not functioning, and lessons are online.

You have to find a way to secure through it, she says. But now they can look forward to better months. Soon, food stalls will appear in the park, and cafes will open. There will be many attractions for children. And the fountain, which will be beautifully illuminated, her mother adds.

However, the air attacks continue. Last weekend, nearly 500 drones and dozens of rockets were fired at Ukraine, including Kyiv. Meanwhile, all eyes are now on the war in the Middle East.

The fact that Russia’s key ally, Iran, is now being targeted is welcomed in Ukraine. Tehran was responsible for the development and export of the Shahed drone, one of the main weapons Russia uses to terrorize Ukrainian cities.

“But there is a risk that allies will be able to help Ukraine less,” says Andri, 32, a software developer who is enjoying a day off in the park. “I hope the weapons continue to arrive.”

Ukrainians watched with dismay as the United States and its allies in the Middle East shot down advanced Patriot missiles over the past week and a half, too to shoot down simple Shaheds. According to Zelensky, more Patriots have been deployed than Ukraine has been able to use since the start of the full-scale invasion. They must be used sparingly here.