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Ukrainian Women Turn to Art to Cope with War’s Devastating Losses
As Ukraine continues to battle Russia’s invasion, many women who have lost their loved ones in the war are finding solace in art. Through an initiative called “She is Alive: Love Stories,” grieving wives and mothers are expressing their sorrow, resilience, and love for their fallen family members on canvas.
A Mother’s Pain, A Nation’s Struggle
Svitlana Poltavska, a resident of Troitske in Ukraine’s Luhansk region, knows firsthand the horrors of Russian occupation. When the war began in February 2022, her husband, a soldier in the State Border Guard Service, was sent to the front lines and was killed within days.
Left alone with her two children, Svitlana endured four months under Russian occupation, subjected to violent searches and intimidation. Russian soldiers repeatedly told her to “say thank you” for not harming her children—yet.
“There is nothing human in the Russian army, only total cruelty,” Svitlana said, recalling how she shielded her children from the abuse she suffered.
She eventually managed to escape in mid-2022 and later joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, determined to defend her country in honor of her late husband.
“A truce at any price is impossible because the price has already been set—the lives of our men, our sons. And there will never be forgiveness for this,” she said.
Painting as a Form of Healing
Like many women in Ukraine, Svitlana found solace in art therapy. The “She is Alive: Love Stories” project provides a safe space for women who have lost their husbands or sons, helping them channel their grief into painting.
“I never painted before, but now it’s my way of showing my love for my husband,” she said, showcasing a painting where she depicted him as a guardian angel watching over their children.
Olena Sokalska, the project’s founder, explains that the initiative allows women to share their pain without words.
“They come here to paint, to talk, to celebrate birthdays. Each of them understands the pain of losing a loved one,” she said.
With over 300 paintings created so far, each piece represents a family torn apart by war. However, the demand for support far exceeds capacity—3,000 women remain on a waiting list for art therapy sessions.
A Son Lost, A Future Stolen
Among the grieving mothers is Vita Kharchuk from Kyiv, whose 22-year-old son Vitaliy was a soldier in the Azov regiment defending Mariupol.
Vitaliy sent his mother a photo on February 26, 2022, just two days after Russia’s full-scale invasion. In it, he is smiling, carrying an NLAW anti-tank weapon on his shoulder. Soon after, he was killed in combat.
“I lost my child, and a child is a future,” Vita said, tears streaming down her face. “I will never have grandchildren, never have anything.”
Vitaliy was later identified in a mass grave, recognized only by his tattoos. His dream, Vita recalls, was to marry his fiancée and have three children.
Now, she paints in his memory, finding comfort among women who share her pain.
A Shared Grief, An Unbreakable Spirit
For many women in Ukraine, painting is more than art—it is survival. It is a way to cope with a war that has taken their loved ones and reshaped their lives forever.
Here, in a small studio, they do not need to explain their pain. They all know it too well. Their art tells the stories of the men they lost, the futures stolen, and the sacrifices made in the fight for Ukraine’s survival.
News
Two Dead, Nearly 200 Injured as PSG Title Celebrations Turn Violent Across France

What began as jubilant celebrations of Paris Saint-Germain’s historic UEFA Champions League victory ended in violence and tragedy in parts of France, with two people killed and nearly 200 injured during street festivities that spiraled out of control.
Authorities confirmed on Sunday that a 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in the southwestern town of Dax during a PSG street gathering, while in Paris, a man died after his scooter was struck by a car amid the crowded celebrations. Both incidents are currently under investigation.
The unrest followed PSG’s dramatic win in Munich, where the club secured its first-ever Champions League title, marking a milestone in French football history. While fans across the country took to the streets to celebrate, several areas descended into violence.
According to the French Interior Ministry, a total of 294 people were arrested nationwide as of 2 a.m. Sunday. Of the nearly 200 injured, 21 were police officers—18 of them in Paris alone. One officer remains in a medically induced coma after being struck in the face by a firework.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the violence in a statement on social media. “True PSG fans are celebrating a magnificent achievement. Meanwhile, barbarians have taken to the streets to commit crimes and provoke law enforcement,” he said. “It is unacceptable that people cannot celebrate without being endangered by a violent minority.”
Despite the unrest, the majority of gatherings were peaceful, authorities noted, with large crowds celebrating the historic win in cities including Marseille, Lyon, and Lille.
The PSG squad returned to Paris from Munich on Sunday afternoon aboard a Qatar Airways charter flight, arriving at 4 p.m. The team is expected to continue celebrations in the capital with tens of thousands of fans, under heightened security measures.
The violent turn of events has reignited debate in France over crowd control during major sporting celebrations, and how best to ensure public safety without dampening national enthusiasm.
PSG’s Champions League triumph marks a defining moment for the club, which has long pursued European glory. As the team prepares for a hero’s welcome, officials are urging fans to celebrate responsibly and respect public safety.
News
Ukraine Launches Major Drone Assault on Russian Airfields, Hits Over 40 Strategic Bombers

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for a large-scale drone strike on four Russian air bases over the weekend, targeting dozens of strategic bombers across vast swaths of Russian territory — from Siberia to the Arctic.
According to Ukrainian officials, the operation, codenamed “Spiderweb” (Pavutyna), was launched on June 1 and struck 41 long-range bombers stationed at airfields in Russia’s Ryazan, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, and Murmansk regions. The attack is being hailed by Kyiv as one of its most ambitious and far-reaching strikes since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia,” a senior SBU official said, noting that the operation was specifically designed to cripple Moscow’s airstrike capabilities. “This is a large-scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft.”
The four airfields targeted were Dyagilevo in the Ryazan region, Ivanovo in central Russia, Belaya air base in Irkutsk — over 4,000 kilometers from the front lines — and Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula near the Arctic, roughly 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
Ukrainian officials described the complex logistics of the operation, which involved covertly transporting drones deep into Russian territory, hiding them until the time of launch, and remotely executing the strikes. While specific details remain classified, Ukraine previously revealed it had developed drones with a flight range of up to 3,000 kilometers, enabling long-range operations like this.
Satellite imagery analyzed after the attack shows the presence of several high-value Russian aircraft types at the affected bases, including the Tu-95, Tu-22M3, Tu-160, and A-50 radar planes. These aircraft have been central to Russia’s long-range missile campaign against Ukraine.
The Tu-22M3, for example, is capable of carrying Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missiles at speeds exceeding Mach 4. The Tu-95, a Cold War-era bomber once designed to carry nuclear weapons, has been retrofitted to launch conventional cruise missiles. The A-50 aircraft provides airborne radar surveillance and target coordination for Russian forces.
The scale of the strike underscores Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities and signals a shift in Kyiv’s strategy to disrupt Russian air operations at their source. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had held meetings with the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, along with the General Staff and SBU, to coordinate further defense and counter-offensive planning.
There has been no immediate official response from Moscow regarding the extent of damage caused.
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