The document provides a personal account of Kharkiv, Ukraine, highlighting the damage from missile strikes and the lack of protection for certain monuments, particularly the memorial for the Great Patriotic War. It suggests that the memorial serves as a reminder of both past sacrifices and the ongoing conflict with Russia. Additionally, it discusses the destruction of buildings in the city and reflects on Ukraine's cultural resilience amidst the war.

1. Photographs from
Kharkiv, Ukraine
27jun22
Please note that I have seen ‘Kharkiv’ spelled
four or five different ways; l will stick with the
spelling on the train ticket from Kyiv to Kharkiv.

2. Digital collage of
Kharkiv
The church to the
left was not struck
by a missile, but
some gold tiles in
the cupolas were
likely knocked out
by a blast wave or
ammunition fired
in an airborne
attack.
An interesting aside: of all the major monuments, the only one I have
seen that is not protected with sand-bags and other materials -- 'up-
armoured' as it were -- is the memorial for the Great Patriotic War (i.e.,
the Eastern front of the European theater during World War II).

3. Kharkiv: Elaboration on the aside
The lack of protection for the monument commemorating the Great
Patriotic war from 1941 to 1945 frankly puzzled me. My first thought was
that foregoing protection intended to poke Russia in the eye since
Ukrainians were not liberated in 1945. Such disrespect to the two million
Ukrainian soldiers killed in action, however, is unthinkable.
Then I considered the idea that, when Kharkiv hunkered down in March,
there was simply not enough material (e.g., sand-bags) to cover all
monuments and older buildings. Surely, in three months, there would
have been new protective materials arriving. So, nope for that option.
My conclusion, such as it is, argues that the memorial not only
commemorates the U.S.S.R.’s Great Patriotic War of eighty years past
against the fascism from the West, but also reminds onlookers of the
Great Patriotic War of Ukraine against fascism going on today but, this
time, from the East.

4. The battle (¿battering?) space is concentrated to an area ranging
from a square kilometer (more likely) to a square mile (at most)
The Russians seem to think that destroying, through aerial
bombardment, the administration buildings of the city and oblast would
somehow suffice to win the battle.

5. The battering (¿battle?) space concentrated yet targeting imprecise
As one can see, residential and office buildings have suffered direct
impacts of missiles volleyed from a distance or faced rounds of
ammunition fired from attacking helicopters or fighter jets.

6. Much of the damage to buildings is due to blast waves from
proximate explosions
The older multi-residential building (left), school (center), and apartment
building with ground-floor shops (right) have suffered from ‘bad vibes’.

7. Ukrainian Defiance
At this intersection, two buildings, likely governmental offices, have
been destroyed by missiles. Across the street is a small park with
this garden, exquisitely manicured. This scene reminds me of the
Empire State Building in tri-colors following 11sep01, in effect with
sky-scraper towering alone and ‘flipping the bird’ at al-Qaeda.

8. Ukraine’s religiosity, or cultural wherewithal
During a walk of fifteen minutes, I encountered
two churches, one cathedral, and a monastery.

9. Is it time for
Ukraine hold
the line in
Donbass to
free up troops
and punch a
hole in the
land-bridge to
Crimea?
Doing so would
likely entail
fighting a
guerrilla war in
Donbass.