In a bomb shelter, highschool seniors — gold sashes slung throughout their chests — took selfies earlier than their commencement. Inside, telephones flashed with air raid alerts as college students and lecturers carried out dance routines.
“We’re the graduates of Kharkiv, the hero metropolis!” the youngsters shouted from the underground stage. Mother and father cheered. Balloons sailed by the air.
Many college students attended all of highschool on-line — first due to the pandemic, then Russia’s invasion.
However for one night time, in a brightly lit basement, they left that every one behind.
A brief drive away, a small crowd gathered to listen to native band Alcohol Ukulele play a avenue present. The ukulele participant, Anton Derbilov was lacking. He was killed on the entrance line final 12 months.
The group swayed to the music, singing alongside. Amongst them was Derbilov’s widow, Kateryna, his daughter Oksana and a number of other troopers recent from the close by entrance line. Derbilov’s greatest pal, Oleksandr, 35, who fought alongside him for practically a 12 months, was additionally there, whereas on a brief break from his unit’s place north of the town. Like most active-duty troopers interviewed for the story, he spoke on the situation his final identify not be utilized in accordance with army protocol.
“That is exactly what I’m preventing for,” he mentioned. “For these peaceable moments.”
Quickly after, the air raid alarm began once more.
