On the verge of war with Russia, the Ukrainians seem to be resigned but prepared

kyiv, Ukraine - IT specialist DanyloKovzhun taught her children to use a pistol.Pastry chef Roman Nabozhniak trains his colleagues in the management of his business to be able to focus on the fight against the Russians.The owner of the Vitaliy Kyrychenko bar keeps his fuel tank full in case he should go rushly.

Since its full independence in 1991, and even before the start of the war in 2014, Ukraine has always struggled to make an impression of stability.But, with 100,000 Russian soldiers grouped at its borders, who threaten to trigger the largest earthly conflict in Europe since the 1940s, the inhabitants say that, this time, the situation is different.

"It has become almost normal to say:" again, a new thing, "explains M.Kovzhun, 46 years old.But, on the other hand, there is a feeling of fear.I think it's going to be a nightmare, like in Syria.This is the only thing that the Russians are capable of.»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

M.Kovzhun is one of those who, in 2014, supported the army by providing him with clothes, food and equipment when the forces were out of breath.Ordinary people are ready to get their hands on the dough, he said, adding: "We know how to follow.»»»»»»»»

During the past eight years since Russia fueled the conflict in eastern Ukraine, life in the capital, kyiv, continued.The war was circumscribed in the East, where the Ukrainian army is mainly confined to exchanging artillery fire and via snipers with the separatists under Russian control along the front lines for the essential.Even if 14,000 people died, for many, the reality of the war is barely noticeable.

Today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invites the population to continue their activities normally.The threat of a large -scale invasion is not new.During a television address on Wednesday, he described it as "neighborhood rumors"»»»».

In the Soviet period, Ukraine has more than taken its share of pain and suffering, whether because of the massive famine caused by Stalin, some of the largest tanks in the Second World War or desolationcaused by Chernobyl's nuclear explosion in 1986.And, since its secession of the USSR in 1991, the country has struggled to find its marks.

The shadow of Russia now hovers above a nation that has started to marry Western customs and struggles with endemic corruption and poverty.Many Ukrainians say they are determined to fight to protect their emerging democracy.

"Millions of people are buried here," recalls M.Kovzhun.Every hundred years ago, there are violent fights in the region.We will have very heavy losses.But I don't think Russia is able to defeat our country.»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

In recent days, Ukrainian officials have urged the population to stay calm, fearing that Moscow would try to take panic.Officials also complain about the alerts launched by the United States about a Russian invasion, which they say, could cause panic.

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This strategy consisting in eating the population seems so far to operate.There was no panic in banks.The currency has dropped little compared to the US dollar contrary to the previous crises that had prompted residents to get rid of their Hryvnias.

Last Monday, news was still marked by internal political dissensions, in the vein of all those who have paralyzed the initiatives deployed by Ukraine for thirty years to become a country that can claim the European Union and the organizationthe North Atlantic Treaty (NATO).Thousands of people gathered to support ex-president Petro Poroshenko, now the leader of the opposition, who, accused of betrayal, appeared before a court.

The demonstration, very followed, extended all day near the Hyatt Regency hotel, where there was a group of American senators on mission, and continued the next day, when M.Poroshenko was authorized to remain free awaiting the continuation of the investigation.The former president denies having committed reprehensible acts.

In kyiv, in the Podil district - for its trendy cafes, its Art Nouveau residential buildings and its market built under the Soviet era - the people continue to live as usual.

Recently, you could see an elderly lady walking in the snow with her pug, dressed in a coat and waterproof slippers matching.Music resounded around a ice rink installed in a place that hosted a Christmas market where residents sipped mulled wine.

The subject of war remakes, despite everything, surface here and there.In a luxury hotel, an American customer asked if he should continue to pay his room in the event of an invasion by Russia.

On the historic market of Zytniy, the merchants are more concerned with the recession and the new wave of COVID infections than the military situation.Customers, who used to buy a kilo of Tvorog - a food close to cottages -, only take only 200 or 300 grams now, explains Valentina Mykhailivna, a 69 -year -old exhibitor, wearing ablack fur hat.

« Cela s’explique par le fait que les gens n’ont plus d’argent»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»», précise-t-elle.

Ihor Ostapenko, 60, who holds a stall of fruit and vegetables with his wife Svitlana, says that he has no other place to go, in a familiar momentum of resignation."The leaders will leave, just like the senior officials.Those who have millions.But for us, it is not possible.We do not have the means.»»»»»»»»

On the other side of the road, at Pink Freud, the cocktail bar of M.Kyrychenko, manager Bohdan Chehorka says he was not even aware of the presence of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border before his parents talked to him a few weeks ago.

Bohdan Chehorka, 30, stresses that he did not notice any particular concern among customers who have coffee or cocktail. « Ma façon de me protéger est de ne pas regarder les informations»»»»»»»», résume-t-il.

M.Kyrychenko, a 36 -year -old man with a brush -combed hair, explains that he gathered his loved ones at the end of last year to prepare for various emergency situations, including electricity or telephone cuts.He explains that he has prepared a suitcase with basic necessities and found accommodation in the west of the country, closer to NATO member states such as Poland and Slovakia, in case he should leave with his family quickly.

Owner of a shop selling pastries and cafes, M.Nabozhniak, beard and piercing in the nose, indicates that this kind of attitude first annoyed him after returning from his voluntary military service in 2016.A few days after his last operation, back in kyiv, he saw people having fun in restaurants and nightclubs.

"It was a delicate situation to manage," he said.What I thought was: "Hey, there is a war in Ukraine a few hundred kilometers from here."" "»»»»»»

The 31 -year -old then thought that things had to be articulated as follows: a professional army had to defend the daily life of people while the rest of the country continued to live and work.He recalls that his motivation to engage had to defend the lifestyle of his parents. « Je ne voulais pas qu’ils se terrent dans une cave»»»»»»»», ajoute-t-il.

Last week, he sent a note to his employees with instructions to manage his company, Veterano Brownie, in case he returns to fight.He agreed with the owner of the walls so that, if things go wrong, he puts boards on the storefront of the coffee.He also undertook to pay rent and employees as long as possible.

"I study, I work, I walk my dog.I even try to go out with women, he says.Life continues, whether Putin arrives or not.»»»»»»»»

M.Kovzhun, l’ingénieur en informatique, a élaboré son business plan de guerre en buvant une bière au Barbakan, un bistrot délabré situé au coin d’une cour.He wishes to exploit his IT skills in collaboration with trade partners located in Latvia to manufacture weapons likely to be used by the Ukrainian army.

Russia is perhaps able to carry out an attack by relying on air strikes and its tanks, but it will not be able to hold all of Ukraine, he assures.The inhabitants had a globally positive opinion of Russia before 2014, the year when Moscow took over the Crimea and sent combatants and weapons to stir up the separatist lifting in the east of the country.

After this episode, many Ukrainians turned against the imperial power which has historically dominated the country, which aroused the momentum of national pride.Residents tumbled most of the statues of Lenin and they started to speak Ukrainian rather than Russian.Result, in a survey carried out at the end of last year, a third of those questioned declared themselves ready to take up arms if the Russians invade the country.

An improbable alliance was formed during the war between the nationalists, who wanted to go to fight immediately against the Russians, and the intellectuals, who collected money and equipment, carried out public campaigns and designed and produces equipment forthe army, in particular surveillance drones and, in the case of.Kovzhun, des tourelles armées et télécommandées.

These groups are ready to resume service, if necessary, assures the latter who recently taught his children 10 and 14 years old to dismantle and reassemble a pistol and a rifle, as well as to manipulate them.

"I would prefer to have a brewery and buy a house by the sea," he admits.I would prefer not to be in this situation, but I am there.»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»

(Translated from the original version in English)