This is a fascinating behind the scenes account of daily life in the war zone that Ukraine has become. Although, the writer lives in Kyiv, he also recounts stories of life in areas around the front line and stories of those who have escaped from behind the lines to tell how Russia is treating those who now find themselves in Russian territory. Having to give up their Ukrainian passport and become Russian in order to access schools, healthcare or pensions.
On life in the Ukrainian governed areas, the inhabitants learn to live their life deprived of sleep due to frequent air raid warnings and to manage the shortages and power cuts with admirable fortitude. Theatres still put on productions and concert halls keep going. Bars and restaurants move underground and swimmers learn to check for mines or unexploded ordinance on the beach front.
Against this determination to keep calm and carry on, there is the death toll, the friends who have died, not always because of injuries but due to a reluctance to access health care that is needed for those injured fighting.
I have previously read several books by the author and have been struck by the gentle humour with which he regards the world around him, but in this book, even he is struggling to find humour. His writing really brings home the relentless day-in, day-out toll that war delivers and the slow sapping of optimism.