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