#Unity - v2 #poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine #FourYears #Europe #Zelenskyy #Trump #Putin

They share one mission,
One common purpose...
Unity defines them,
One spirit together,
One hope in this time...
Unity must define us,
To win this fight,
Good versus evil,
David versus Goliath,
Asymmetric warfare...
 
Their dignity, their existence
To be safe in their borders
To be at peace, together
The right to sovereignty
All of Ukraine is Ukraine...
Invaded, conquered,
Like under the Tsar, subjugated...
But this time they are standing up
On the front lines, in the streets...
 
They are humanity, united,
remembering the fallen
Honoring their heroes,
Remembrance, always
all who have suffered
against Russia’s genocide...
They are standing, united,
Become a resolute people,
They will prevail, together,
When dignity is won...
 
-------
Edited March 21, 2026
Unity – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/03/unity-v2.html
February 24, 2026 (Fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion)
RUSSIA COLLAPSE: PUTIN’S BIGGEST FAILURE Vlog 1330: War in Ukraine
https://youtu.be/xWK3b5zJS-A?si=E0PvX7YzjsF9rmyh
From post by Anna Danylchuk
(Anna from Ukraine)
February 20, 2026
Dignity, existence
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/dignity-existence.html
The Heavenly Hundred heroes, the protesters killed during Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity
Edited February 19, 2026
You hold each of them so closely – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/you-hold-each-of-them-so-closely-v3.html
February 19, 2026
Every. Single. Day.
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/every-single-day.html
Instagram post by Olena_Ivanenko_rij
https://www.instagram.com/stories/olena_ivanenko_rij/3835849990073791731/
“Хвилина памʼяті
згадувала братів за якими дуже сумую
кожен день 9:00 честь”
“A moment of remembrance
remembered the brothers I miss so much
every day 9:00 honor.”
Edited February 18, 2026
to remember the dead – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/to-remember-dead-v2.html
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/to-remember-dead-v2.html
“to remember the dead is to appreciate the living”
Quote by defender about Cheka Fest, June 1, 2025 in Lviv,
https://www.instagram.com/cheka.fest/
where 2,000 participants remembered fallen
combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh, who died May 29, 2024,
days before her 26^th birthday on June 1, 2024.
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, defenders, victory, peace, Stand With Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes, culture, identity, unity, love, spirit, legacy, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, Pysanky, Vyshyvanka,
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #ChekaFest #Vyshyvanka #IrynaTsybukh #Cheka #OlenaIvanenko
 

to remember the dead – v2 #poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #ChekaFest #Vyshyvanka #IrynaTsybukh #Cheka

To remember the dead
is to appreciate the living...
We hold each other more closely
united in love, as one…
 
We must treasure these moments,
the gathering of so many beloved...
All honor the fallen dead affirm
their closeness with us still…
 
We honor our responsibility to the dead,
to their sacrifice, their presence...
We know they stand still beside us
in the crucible of these days…
 
In gathering, in time set apart,
We remember who they are...
They have a place in our beating hearts,
never to be lost in time…
 
To remember the dead
is to appreciate the living...
We hold each other more closely
united in love, as one…
 
-------
Edited February 18, 2026
to remember the dead – v2
 
“to remember the dead is to appreciate the living”
Quote by defender about Cheka Fest, June 1, 2025 in Lviv,
https://www.instagram.com/cheka.fest/
where 2,000 participants remembered fallen
combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh, who died May 29, 2024,
days before her 26^th birthday on June 1, 2024.
Edited February 17, 2026
The present memory of that day – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v3.html
Memory of February 24, 2022,
the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion,
as described by a defender of Ukraine
on February 25, 2025
February 17, 2026
Justice must come
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/justice-must-come.html
Russia’s full scale-invasion of Ukraine,
Endless war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Edited February 17, 2026
Scorched Earth – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/scorched-earth-v2.html
Based on #Habakkuk1:5-11
Based on Habakkuk 1:2a
Based on Habakkuk 1:1-11
Sermon by Nate Labadorf
Griggs Memorial Baptist Church
Russia’s full scale-invasion of Ukraine, and their destruction
of cities and villages throughout Ukraine.
Edited February 16, 2026
eating like locusts – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/eating-like-locusts-v2.html
Russia’s full scale-invasion of Ukraine, and their destruction
of cities and villages throughout Ukraine.
Edited February 14, 2026
touching bleeding flesh – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v3.html
on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
and the thirty-fifth anniversary of my father’s black-ice fatal car accident, February 14, 1991.
Edited February 26, 2025
touching bleeding flesh – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v2.html
"The present memory of that day" is both 2/24/2022 for Ukraine and Ukrainians
and 2/14/1991 for me personally. I am using my experience of detailed visceral
images of lifting the blood and brains of my father to give even a touch of
authenticity to this poem, merging my conversation with one defender and
the words of that other defender yesterday to write "touching bleeding flesh "
February 14, 2026
Days turned to Years
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/days-have-turned-to-years.html
On the Fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, February 24, 2026
Edited February 13, 2026
touching bleeding flesh – v2 – defender
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v2-written-by.html
(written by a decorated medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 13, 2026
The Cost of Dignity – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-cost-of-dignity-v2.html
 Ukraine Olympic flagbearer and Skeleton slider, Vladyslav Heraskevych, and helmet of honor
Edited December 28, 2025
echoes of the metronome – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/echoes-of-metronome-v3.html
during Moment of Honor (Вшануй), at 9:00am daily in Ukraine
https://www.threads.com/@moment_of_honor
https://www.facebook.com/momentofhonor/
https://www.instagram.com/moment_of_honor/
“We are a team that promotes the Minute of Silence
Edited December 23, 2025
no minute of silence – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/no-minute-of-silence-v3.html
based on an Instagram post by Julia Kochetova,
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DRH98GHiKSp/
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
June 4, 2025
to remember the dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/to-remember-dead.html
“to remember the dead is to appreciate the living”
Quote by defender about Cheka Fest, June 1, 2025 in Lviv,
https://www.instagram.com/cheka.fest/
2,000 participants remembered fallen combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh,
who died May 29, 2024, days before her 26^th birthday on June 1, 2024.
Edited May 22, 2025
You hold each of them so closely – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/you-hold-each-of-them-so-closely-v2.html
video (https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlbX7MtEjg/) of Ukrainian women defenders making Ukrainian Easter eggs with a picture of combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh on the table.
Edited April 4, 2025
sisters in arms – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/sisters-in-arms-v3.html
written after reading post by defender of Ukraine about serving as
a woman in the army, for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a decorated medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
touching bleeding flesh – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-v2.html
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
February 25, 2025
Memory of February 24, 2022
as described by a defender of Ukraine, in uniform since 2013.
edited February 15, 2025
Three years of terror, of genocide – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/three-years-of-terror-genocide-v2.html
March 5, 2022
Don’t give Ukraine to the Madman
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/dont-give-ukraine-to-madman.html
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, war, invasion, Putin, terror, genocide, Crimea, 1000 Days, Four Years, Europe, Zelenskyy, Trump,  Stand With Ukraine, full-scale invasion,
 
#poetry #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #war #invasion #terror #genocide #StandWithUkraine #FourYears #Europe #Zelenskyy #Trump #Putin
 
--------------
poetry, Ukraine, defenders, victory, peace, Stand With Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes, culture, identity, unity, love, spirit, legacy, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, Pysanky, Vyshyvanka,
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #ChekaFest #Vyshyvanka #IrynaTsybukh #Cheka

The Cost of #Dignity – v2 #poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #MomentofHonor #Cheka #IrynaTsybukh #VladyslavHeraskevych

A higher calling than glory,
standing on his principles,
His decision to stand, to honor,
to lift the fallen, their memory,
their sacrifice, to stand his ground...
 
His resolve, his words became a weapon,
a shield of the warriors in his hand,
a vyshyvanka sewn over his heart
a helmet of memory for the fallen
the war dead, the athletes of Ukraine...
 
He chose his comrades, his people,
the cost of dignity, honor,
“Remembrance is not a violation.”
yet paying the ultimate cost
to stand with the heroes of Ukraine...
 
He is grounded in her black soil,
Dignity is more important
than any Olympic medal,
New awareness of war crimes,
the genocide of Russia in Ukraine...
 
-------
Edited February 13, 2026
The Cost of Dignity – v2
 
 
Ukraine Olympic flagbearer and Skeleton slider, Vladyslav Heraskevych, wore a helmet with the images of fallen Ukrainian athletes. The IOC ruled he could not wear it even in practice. When he refused to comply, the IOC banned him from participating in the Milan Olympics. This set off a firestorm around the world.
“What Vladyslav Heraskevych did wearing this helmet with the images of dead Ukrainian athletes is wholly consistent with the way the entire country of Ukraine honors its war dead every day, through the Moment of Honor at 9am every morning, in kneeling beside the road as a funeral procession passes, through the days of remembrance throughout the calendar, through the large images of the dead in cemeteries, to all the places across the country that have the images of the fallen.
 
The fallen are ever-present with the people of Ukraine. His helmet is the embodiment of how he and the country honor the fallen, all those killed by Russia, by its genocide in Ukraine.”
Edited December 28, 2025
echoes of the metronome – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/echoes-of-metronome-v3.html
during Moment of Honor (Вшануй), at 9:00am daily in Ukraine
https://www.threads.com/@moment_of_honor
https://www.facebook.com/momentofhonor/
https://www.instagram.com/moment_of_honor/
“We are a team that promotes the Minute of Silence
Edited December 23, 2025
no minute of silence – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/no-minute-of-silence-v3.html
based on an Instagram post by Julia Kochetova,
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DRH98GHiKSp/
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
June 4, 2025
to remember the dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/to-remember-dead.html
“to remember the dead is to appreciate the living”
Quote by defender about Cheka Fest, June 1, 2025 in Lviv,
https://www.instagram.com/cheka.fest/
2,000 participants remembered fallen combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh,
who died May 29, 2024, days before her 26^th birthday on June 1, 2024.
Edited May 22, 2025
You hold each of them so closely – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/you-hold-each-of-them-so-closely-v2.html
a video (https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlbX7MtEjg/) of Ukrainian women defenders making Ukrainian Easter eggs with a picture of combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh on the table.
Edited April 4, 2025
sisters in arms – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/sisters-in-arms-v3.html
written after reading post by defender of Ukraine about serving as
a woman in the army, for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a decorated medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
Memory of February 24, 2022, as described by a defender of Ukraine 
Edited January 13, 2025
Sacred Days – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/sacred-days-v3.html
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, defenders, victory, peace, Stand With Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes, culture, identity, unity, love, spirit, legacy, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, Moment of Honor, Iryna Tsybukh, Vladyslav Heraskevych,
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #MomentofHonor #Cheka #IrynaTsybukh #VladyslavHeraskevych

the cost of #dignity #poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #MomentofHonor #Cheka #IrynaTsybukh #VladyslavHeraskevych

standing on his principles,
His decision to stand to honor
to lift the fallen, their memory,
their sacrifice, to stand his ground...
 
a shield of the warriors in his hand,
a vyshyvanka sewn over his heart
a helmet of memory for the fallen
the war dead, the athletes of Ukraine...
 
the cost of dignity, honor,
“Remembrance is not a violation.”
yet paying the ultimate cost
to stand with the heroes of Ukraine...
 
Dignity is more important
than any Olympic medal,
New awareness of war crimes,
the genocide of Russia in Ukraine...
 
-------
February 12, 2026
the cost of dignity
 
Ukraine Olympic flagbearer and Skeleton slider, Vladyslav Heraskevych, wore a helmet with the images of fallen Ukrainian athletes. The IOC ruled he could not wear it even in practice. When he refused to comply, the IOC banned him from participating in the Milan Olympics. This set off a firestorm around the world.
“What Vladyslav Heraskevych did wearing this helmet with the images of dead Ukrainian athletes is wholly consistent with the way the entire country of Ukraine honors its war dead every day, through the Moment of Honor at 9am every morning, in kneeling beside the road as a funeral procession passes, through the days of remembrance throughout the calendar, through the large images of the dead in cemeteries, to all the places across the country that have the images of the fallen.
 
The fallen are ever-present with the people of Ukraine. His helmet is the embodiment of how he and the country honor the fallen, all those killed by Russia, by its genocide in Ukraine.”
Edited December 28, 2025
echoes of the metronome – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/echoes-of-metronome-v3.html
during Moment of Honor (Вшануй), at 9:00am daily in Ukraine
https://www.threads.com/@moment_of_honor
https://www.facebook.com/momentofhonor/
https://www.instagram.com/moment_of_honor/
“We are a team that promotes the Minute of Silence,
and the culture of remembrance, inspired by Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh”
Edited December 23, 2025
no minute of silence – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/no-minute-of-silence-v3.html
based on an Instagram post by Julia Kochetova,
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DRH98GHiKSp/
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
June 4, 2025
to remember the dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/to-remember-dead.html
“to remember the dead is to appreciate the living”
Quote by defender about Cheka Fest, June 1, 2025 in Lviv,
https://www.instagram.com/cheka.fest/
2,000 participants remembered fallen combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh,
who died May 29, 2024, days before her 26^th birthday on June 1, 2024.
Edited May 22, 2025
You hold each of them so closely – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/you-hold-each-of-them-so-closely-v2.html
a video (https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlbX7MtEjg/) of Ukrainian women defenders making Ukrainian Easter eggs with a picture of combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh on the table.
Edited April 4, 2025
sisters in arms – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/sisters-in-arms-v3.html
written after reading post by defender of Ukraine about serving as
a woman in the army, for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a decorated medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
Memory of February 24, 2022, as described by a defender of Ukraine 
Edited January 13, 2025
Sacred Days – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/sacred-days-v3.html
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, defenders, victory, peace, Stand With Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes, culture, identity, unity, love, spirit, legacy, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, Moment of Honor, Iryna Tsybukh, Vladyslav Heraskevych,
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #MomentofHonor #Cheka #IrynaTsybukh #VladyslavHeraskevych

A decisive year beginning #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

Something in the air, the water,
a change in the balance of power,
The tide of the war is shifting,
perhaps almost imperceptibly,
But nonetheless real…
 
A different year ended, turning,
a decisive year beginning, unfolding,
Quickly seeing the fruits of their efforts,
The resolve of their partners,
Ukraine’s will to survive, to adapt…
 
Russia’s size has become its weakness,
Their power is muted by innovation,
Homegrown weapons are so effective
against the expanse of targets
Their Achilles Heel…
 
Asymmetric warfare, drones, and missiles,
hunting their homeland, unprotected,
Vulnerable in their vastness,
a field rich with targets
Too many to protect…
 
---------------

January 10, 2026

A decisive year beginning

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-decisive-year-beginning.html

Based on my post to Mykhailo Fedorov on LinkedIn,

“In the poem below, I called 2025, "A different year ended"; but that makes 2026, "A decisive year begun". I pray this is the year for Ukraine to achieve victory and a just and lasting peace. ”

Edited January 5, 2026
A different year ended – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-different-year-ended-v2.html
Inspired by post of Christina Kydrava, December 31, 2025,
https://www.instagram.com/stories/kydrava_/3799867793609373927/
reposting her post of December 31, 2024
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEQD199tBfb/
“There will be no results, only conclusions: the struggle continues.”
 
I replied: “Another year ending but different than last December 31. This year ending was like 1942/1943 in the United States, where military production and attacks on Japanese positions began after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The parallels aren't perfect, but Ukraine is now producing more of its own weapons and taking the fight to Russia. 2026 will be decisive for Ukraine’s victory.”
Edited December 31, 2025
Despite everything
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/despite-everything.html
December 30, 2025 Instagram post by Oleksandra Matviichuk
https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7HP6aDOC3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Edited December 27, 2025
Courage to Step Outside – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/courage-to-step-outside-v3.html
Images and videos of Christmas celebrations and parades
In Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 2025
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com 
Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war, Christmas, Kyiv, culture, joy, resolve, New Year, Oleksandra Matviichuk, Christina Kydrava,
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

Despite Everything – v2 #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

Resistance, staring at challenges…

Courage in one door closing,

A turn of the calendar’s pages…

Resolve in the face of terror, evil,

Determination, disregarding betrayal,

Unified at all costs, rising as one…

A people, a nation together,

Despite everything, standing,

Knowing what they have faced,

Standing resilient because they must…

Clear-eyed about terror, this genocide…

Despite everything standing strong,

Determined to persevere, to achieve…

Hope in the struggle, the maelstrom,

Never backing down, defiant, resourceful…

Life continues always, together,

Standing, kneeling as one people,

United within their territory, their nation,

Until victory is won for their people…

Until a just peace rises like the sun...

---------------
Edited January 5, 2026
Despite Everything – v2
 
December 30, 2025 Instagram post by Oleksandra Matviichuk
https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7HP6aDOC3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
·         “@theukrainians proposed naming a word of the year, as leading dictionaries around the world do. Our word of 2025 is ‘despite everything’. It is about character.
Another year of a genocidal war in Europe, launched by Russia to destroy us, is coming to an end. Any illusions that the civilized world would be outraged by such injustice and decisively stop Putin’s imperial ambitions have faded.
Ukraine has found itself at the epicenter of events that will shape a new international order. And despite everything, people in Ukraine continue to fight for even the slightest chance — for themselves and their children — to have the freedom to live without fear of violence and to have a long-term perspective,” — @avalaina_ua head of the @center_for_civil_liberties.
«@theukrainians запронували назвати слово року як це роблять провідні словники світу. Наше слово 2025 року – це «всупереч». І воно про характер.
Закінчується черговий рік геноцидальної війни в Європі, яку розпочала Росія для нашого знищення. Якщо у когось й були ілюзії, що цивілізований світ обуриться такою несправедливістю та рішуче зупинить імперські амбіції Путіна, то вони поблякли. 
Україні випало бути в епіцентрі подій, які визначать новий міжнародний порядок. І всупереч усьому люди в Україні продовжують боротися за найменший шанс для себе та своїх дітей мати свободу жити без страху насильства та мати довгу перспективу на майбутнє», — @avalaina_ua голова @center_for_civil_liberties.
Edited January 5, 2026
A different year ended – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-different-year-ended-v2.html
Inspired by post of Christina Kydrava, December 31, 2025,
https://www.instagram.com/stories/kydrava_/3799867793609373927/
reposting her post of December 31, 2024
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEQD199tBfb/
“There will be no results, only conclusions: the struggle continues.”
I replied: “Another year ending but different than last December 31. This year ending was like 1942/1943 in the United States, where military production and attacks on Japanese positions began after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The parallels aren't perfect, but Ukraine is now producing more of its own weapons and taking the fight to Russia. 2026 will be decisive for Ukraine’s victory.”
Edited December 27, 2025
Courage to Step Outside – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/courage-to-step-outside-v3.html
Images and videos of Christmas celebrations and parades
In Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 2025
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com 
Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war, Christmas, Kyiv, culture, joy, resolve, New Year, Oleksandra Matviichuk, Christina Kydrava,
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

A different year ended – v2 #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

A different year ended,
unlike a year ago, holding…
Changes on the battlefield,
their war footing as a nation…
The tide is changing, rising,
their own munitions production,
targeting oil infrastructure, power,
strikes the enemy cannot stop…
 
No longer defensive,
caught waiting, flat-footed,
with timid allies, frozen,
compromised by oil and gas…
Building their own security
their own native power…
Taking the fight to the enemy,
more than Russia can stop…
 
Momentum is changing in battle
redefining a war of attrition,
drones and intelligence,
matched by their boldness…
Deep strikes in their rear…
A rising tide of judgment
against their war crimes…
Timid allies galvanized
around Ukraine’s will to live…
 
---------------
Edited January 5, 2026
A different year ended – v2
 
January 1, 2026
A different year ended
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-different-year-ended.html
Inspired by post of Christina Kydrava, December 31, 2025,
https://www.instagram.com/stories/kydrava_/3799867793609373927/
reposting her post of December 31, 2024
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEQD199tBfb/
“There will be no results, only conclusions: the struggle continues.”
 
I replied: “Another year ending but different than last December 31. This year ending was like 1942/1943 in the United States, where military production and attacks on Japanese positions began after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The parallels aren't perfect, but Ukraine is now producing more of its own weapons and taking the fight to Russia. 2026 will be decisive for Ukraine’s victory.” And “
Edited December 31, 2025
Despite everything
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/despite-everything.html
December 30, 2025 Instagram post by Oleksandra Matviichuk
https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7HP6aDOC3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Edited December 27, 2025
Courage to Step Outside – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/courage-to-step-outside-v3.html
Images and videos of Christmas celebrations and parades
In Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 2025
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com 
Poetry Where You Live.
 
 Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war, Christmas, Kyiv, culture, joy, resolve, New Year, Oleksandra Matviichuk, Christina Kydrava,

#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

A different year ended #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #courage #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

A different year ended,
unlike a year ago, holding…
Changes on the battlefield…
The tide is changing, rising,
their own munitions production,
the strikes the enemy cannot stop…
 
No longer defensive,
caught waiting, flat-footed…
Building their own security
their own native power…
Taking the fight to the enemy,
more than Russia can stop…
 
Momentum is changing in the battle
redefining a war of attrition…
Deep strikes in their rear…
A rising tide of judgment
against their war crimes…
Timid allies galvanized
around Ukraine’s will to live…
 
---------------
January 1, 2026
A different year ended
 
Inspired by post of Christina Kydrava, December 31, 2025,
https://www.instagram.com/stories/kydrava_/3799867793609373927/
reposting her post of December 31, 2024
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEQD199tBfb/
“There will be no results, only conclusions: the struggle continues.”
 
I replied: “Another year ending but different than last December 31. This year ending was like 1942/1943 in the United States, where military production and attacks on Japanese positions began after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The parallels aren't perfect, but Ukraine is now producing more of its own weapons and taking the fight to Russia. 2026 will be decisive for Ukraine’s victory.” And “
Edited December 31, 2025
Despite everything
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/01/despite-everything.html
December 30, 2025 Instagram post by Oleksandra Matviichuk
https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7HP6aDOC3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Edited December 27, 2025
Courage to Step Outside – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/courage-to-step-outside-v3.html
Images and videos of Christmas celebrations and parades
In Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 2025
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war, Christmas, Kyiv, culture, joy, resolve, courage,  New Year, Oleksandra Matviichuk, Christina Kydrava,
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #courage #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk #ChristinaKydrava

Despite everything #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #courage #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk

 
Courage in one door closing,
A turn of the calendar’s pages…
Resolve in the face of terror, evil,
Determination, disregarding betrayal,
Unified at all costs, rising as one…
A people, a nation together,
Despite everything, standing,
Knowing what they have faced,
Resilient because they must…
 
Despite everything standing strong,
Determined to persevere, to achieve,
Hope in the struggle, the maelstrom,
Never backing down, defiant, resourceful…
Life continues always, together,
Standing, kneeling as one people,
United within their territory, their nation,
Until victory is won for their people…
Until a just peace rises like the sun…
 
---------------
Edited December 31, 2025
Despite everything
 
December 30, 2025 Instagram post by Oleksandra Matviichuk
https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7HP6aDOC3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
·         “@theukrainians proposed naming a word of the year, as leading dictionaries around the world do. Our word of 2025 is ‘despite everything’. It is about character.
Another year of a genocidal war in Europe, launched by Russia to destroy us, is coming to an end. Any illusions that the civilized world would be outraged by such injustice and decisively stop Putin’s imperial ambitions have faded.
Ukraine has found itself at the epicenter of events that will shape a new international order. And despite everything, people in Ukraine continue to fight for even the slightest chance — for themselves and their children — to have the freedom to live without fear of violence and to have a long-term perspective,” — @avalaina_ua head of the @center_for_civil_liberties.
«@theukrainians запронували назвати слово року як це роблять провідні словники світу. Наше слово 2025 року – це «всупереч». І воно про характер.
Закінчується черговий рік геноцидальної війни в Європі, яку розпочала Росія для нашого знищення. Якщо у когось й були ілюзії, що цивілізований світ обуриться такою несправедливістю та рішуче зупинить імперські амбіції Путіна, то вони поблякли. 
Україні випало бути в епіцентрі подій, які визначать новий міжнародний порядок. І всупереч усьому люди в Україні продовжують боротися за найменший шанс для себе та своїх дітей мати свободу жити без страху насильства та мати довгу перспективу на майбутнє», — @avalaina_ua голова @center_for_civil_liberties.
Edited December 27, 2025
Courage to Step Outside – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/courage-to-step-outside-v3.html
Images and videos of Christmas celebrations and parades
In Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 2025
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war, Christmas, Kyiv, culture, joy, resolve, courage,  New Year, Oleksandra Matviichuk,
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #courage #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk

in spite of everything #poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #courage #NewYear #OleksandraMatviichuk

Courage in the one door closing,
A turn of the calendar’s pages.
Resolve in the face of terror,
Determination, disregarding betrayal,
Unified at all costs…
A people, a nation together,
In spite of everything, standing,
Knowing what they have faced,
Resilient because they must…
 
In spite of everything standing strong,
Determined to persevere, to achieve,
Hope in the struggle, the maelstrom,
Never backing down…
Life continuing always, together,
Standing, kneeling as one people,
United within their territory, their nation,
Until victory is won for their people…
Until a just peace rises like the sun…
 
---------------
December 31, 2025
in spite of everything
 
December 30, 2025 Instagram post by Oleksandra Matviichuk
https://www.instagram.com/p/DS7HP6aDOC3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
·         “@theukrainians proposed naming a word of the year, as leading dictionaries around the world do. Our word of 2025 is ‘despite everything’. It is about character.
Another year of a genocidal war in Europe, launched by Russia to destroy us, is coming to an end. Any illusions that the civilized world would be outraged by such injustice and decisively stop Putin’s imperial ambitions have faded.
Ukraine has found itself at the epicenter of events that will shape a new international order. And despite everything, people in Ukraine continue to fight for even the slightest chance — for themselves and their children — to have the freedom to live without fear of violence and to have a long-term perspective,” — @avalaina_ua head of the @center_for_civil_liberties.
«@theukrainians запронували назвати слово року як це роблять провідні словники світу. Наше слово 2025 року – це «всупереч». І воно про характер.
Закінчується черговий рік геноцидальної війни в Європі, яку розпочала Росія для нашого знищення. Якщо у когось й були ілюзії, що цивілізований світ обуриться такою несправедливістю та рішуче зупинить імперські амбіції Путіна, то вони поблякли. 
Україні випало бути в епіцентрі подій, які визначать новий міжнародний порядок. І всупереч усьому люди в Україні продовжують боротися за найменший шанс для себе та своїх дітей мати свободу жити без страху насильства та мати довгу перспективу на майбутнє», — @avalaina_ua голова @center_for_civil_liberties.
Edited December 27, 2025
Courage to Step Outside – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/courage-to-step-outside-v3.html
Images and videos of Christmas celebrations and parades
In Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine and
Erica Kabaeva post on Instagram November 4, 2025
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
Poetry, fear, courage, life, Ukraine, war, Christmas, Kyiv, culture, joy, resolve, courage,  New Year,
 
#poetry #fear #courage #life #Ukraine #war #Christmas #Kyiv #culture #joy #resolve #courage #NewYear

echoes of the metronome – v3 #poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #MomentofHonor #Cheka #IrynaTsybukh

Rumbling, a reverberation, pausing,
A cadence of memory, of time, beating,
Sound speaks power into each moment,
Silence speaks light each day - Remember!…
Their world stops for a hushed minute,
sacred reverence, honor…
 
They stand in silence, together,
with those who will not return…
 
Breathing time, its rhythm,
The spirit of their fallen,
Echoes of the metronome -
Crossing time and space…
Wailing through the silence, incessant,
off black top, cars, bodies, living buildings…
 
Announcing their identity as a people,
Sound bleeding into their hearts…
 
Frozen in silent power,
They stop together, united,
These moments, an anthem,
As a nation, as a people, humbly,
in grief, in honor, palpable reverence,
for their fallen, Glory for their Heroes…
 
Speaking their name in handmade signs,
never to forget their sacrifice…

 
-------
Edited December 28, 2025
echoes of the metronome – v3
 
during Moment of Honor (Вшануй), at 9:00am daily in Ukraine
https://www.threads.com/@moment_of_honor
https://www.facebook.com/momentofhonor/
https://www.instagram.com/moment_of_honor/
“We are a team that promotes the Minute of Silence,
and the culture of remembrance, inspired by Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh”
Edited December 23, 2025
no minute of silence – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/12/no-minute-of-silence-v3.html
based on an Instagram post by Julia Kochetova,
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DRH98GHiKSp/
Edited August 20, 2025
Flying from every flagpole – v5
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/08/flying-from-every-flagpole-v5.html
June 4, 2025
to remember the dead
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/06/to-remember-dead.html
“to remember the dead is to appreciate the living”
Quote by defender about Cheka Fest, June 1, 2025 in Lviv,
https://www.instagram.com/cheka.fest/
where 2,000 participants remembered fallen combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh,
who died May 29, 2024, days before her 26^th birthday on June 1, 2024.
Edited May 22, 2025
You hold each of them so closely – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/05/you-hold-each-of-them-so-closely-v2.html
a video (https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlbX7MtEjg/) of Ukrainian women defenders making Ukrainian Easter eggs with a picture of their fallen comrade, combat medic Iryna "Cheka" Tsybukh on the table. Iryna’s mother, Oksana, led them in the master class, making the eggs.
Edited April 4, 2025
sisters in arms – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/04/sisters-in-arms-v3.html
written after reading post by defender of Ukraine about serving as
a woman in the army, for International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025
February 27, 2025
touching bleeding flesh
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/touching-bleeding-flesh-defender.html
(written by a decorated medic on the front lines in Ukraine)
Edited February 26, 2025
The present memory of that day – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-present-memory-of-that-day-v2.html
Memory of February 24, 2022, as described by a defender of Ukraine 
Edited January 13, 2025
Sacred Days – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/sacred-days-v3.html
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, Ukraine, defenders, victory, peace, Stand With Ukraine, Glory to the Heroes, culture, identity, unity, love, spirit, legacy, Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian, Moment of Honor, Iryna Tsybukh
 
#poetry #StandWithUkraine #Ukraine #Defenders #Victory #Peace #GlorytotheHeroes #culture #identity #unity #love #spirit #legacy #TarasShevchenko #Ukrainian #MomentofHonor #Cheka #IrynaTsybukh