Jessica

I feel exhausted and will take a few days’ break.
No Sunday Letter tomorrow either.
This war is a marathon,
and I need to use my strength wisely.

While I’m away, you can still read my letters or support this long work if you find it worth it.
www.patreon.com/c/strategywo...

Kyiv, Sophia Square today.
The annual “Empty Chairs” event –
in support of journalists, writers, and cultural figures
missing, imprisoned, or held captive
because of russia’s war against Ukraine.

I was there. I want the world to see.

Since the late 1980s, at the initiative of International PEN,
November 15 has been marked worldwide as the Day of the Imprisoned Writer –
or Empty Chair Day.

I untied the laces of the day.
Friday evening.
Kyiv.
Always like a phoenix after an attack.

How are you?
I’d appreciate something normal, without ‘stay strong, we pray, don’t give up.’
Tell me about ordinary life, please.

Yes,
I went to my workout.
It helps me release the anger and negative energy after nights of attacks.
Now I’m having a warcoffee.

Just glad to be alive.

Greetings from Kyiv.

I managed to get a little sleep.
Now reading the reports
with a cup of warcoffee (we have electricity).

It was an attack on civilians –
many residential buildings were hit.
There are casualties.

For the next 24 hours,
the recording of today’s live talk will be available to free members.
Supporters will have lifelong access.

Some answers are meant to be heard now,
but I wouldn’t feel comfortable keeping it open for long.

The link ⬇️

2:43 am in Kyiv.
The awful attack continues.
I don’t want to repeat the same words.
I’ll write to you in the morning –
I hope it comes.

A hard night in Kyiv.
We’re under massive attack.

The mayor reports damage across the city.
It feels like being trapped inside a strange game –
only this game is reality.

It’s very loud in Kyiv.
Explosions.
Missiles and drones.

I don’t know what else to say.

Soon midnight in Kyiv.
Still calm, though drones are said to be approaching.
Power outages were shorter today, eight hours in total.

I came to eveningly ask –
how are you?

Let’s take a 40-second break for 🇺🇦 culture.

The Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra was built in the 1070s.
It was blown up in 1941 – some say by the retreating soviets, others by the nazi occupiers.

Reconstruction began in 1998 in Ukrainian Baroque style, and the cathedral reopened in 2000

Victory (still a cat) reacting to fresh grass –
just like many people react to the free content I share 🙈

We rarely value what comes for free.
Don’t argue. It’s true.

www.patreon.com/posts/record...

Independence Square in Kyiv today.

The video begins with the words I ❤️ Ukraine.

Greetings from Kyiv,
where we’ve just finished our live talk.

I answered questions about life here and more.
Not sure yet if the recording will be published –
thank you to everyone who joined.

Power outages are shorter in Kyiv today –
our sector was without electricity for about 11 hours.
(The city is divided into twelve sectors, each with its own schedule.)
Cold and rainy here.

How are you?

I suggest you take a one-minute break for art.

🇺🇦 Oleksandr Murashko (1875–1919)

To read what live events are
www.patreon.com/posts/137941...

Planning a live talk for tomorrow.

We have two live events each month,
one will be comfortable for supporters in the US, Canada,
the other – for Australia, New Zealand.
Luckily, time always works for Europe 😉

Tomorrow it’s Australia/New Zealand’s turn. Supporters only.
Hope we’ll have a recording

Greetings from Kyiv
and Victory (still a cat).

We started the day without electricity,
but with a good mood.

There are things we can’t change,
but there are always some we can.

A spoon of electricity –
that’s what I can say about today in Kyiv.

Power outages are long.
But, as I once said, I try to do regular things during them
(well, the ones I can).

Life goes on,
just often in darkness.

Today is Remembrance Day in many countries – the red poppy is its symbol.

Maybe you didn’t know that in Ukraine,
May 8 is Remembrance Day, honoring the victims of World War II.
Ukraine also uses the red poppy, designed by Serhiy Mishakin in 2014
(the words in the picture say ‘Never again’)

Late 19th-century Ukraine.

After childbirth, the midwife brought a small gift – bread, a chicken, some coins – to the priest. He prayed for the baby and gave it a name.

Names were not chosen by parents then but by the priest, usually after the saint of the day.

Greetings from Kyiv,
where I’m spending time in one of my favorite bookstores.

Today, I’m sorting your questions
for our next live talk (coming soon).

Outside – grey skies and unexpectedly warm November air.

I think a lot about the tasks I set for myself.
All of them have one simple goal:
to help you discover a country that was hidden behind russia’s bars –
and maybe even make you fall a little in love with it.

Yes, there’s a war in Ukraine.
But Ukraine is more than the war.

Just got the power outage schedule for tomorrow.
We’ll have electricity for about 10 hours in total
(counting the night).

Life in Kyiv, late autumn 2025.
Damn russia.

A shot I love.

Paintings by Ukrainian artist Oleksandr Murashko.
People in this frame seem to be talking:
– So, how are you?
– And you?
– Please, let me take a good photo. Don’t move.
– Like children 🙄

A gentle reminder –
if you’re new here,
or have been with me for a while but hesitated:

You can support my work on Patreon
and help me keep telling the world
about Ukraine’s history, culture, and daily life.

Of course, there are rewards too.
🇺🇦 www.patreon.com/strategywoman

Greetings from Kyiv,
where the night was mostly calm,
but with minimal electricity at home.

russians want to demoralise us before winter.
We? Live. Work. Create. Resist.