Ukrainian elections

Yesterday we went to the Ukrainian embassy in Stockholm so Maria could vote in the Ukrainian Presidential elections. The candy-guy, Petro Porosjenko who makes my favourite Ukrainian candy - Roshen Nougat, was the favourite and it seems he got over 50% of the votes in the end, meaning that there will be no second round. Hopefully this will lead to peace and quiet in Ukraine!

The embassy is in Lidingo, an island in the centre of Stockholm, and we ran into several girls and guys wearing Vyshyvankas. There was a Vyshyvanka march yesterday as well, which we unfortunately missed as I had to fly back to London.

Too young to vote but still a supporter for the elections!

Hmm, who to choose?

Casting the vote

Surrounded by Vyshyvankas

Dnepropetrovsk

The third time I went to Ukraine I went to Dnepropetrovsk, a Russian speaking city in central Ukraine and the home city of my wife. It was great to see all her relatives and where she grew up. The city clearly bore signs of the Soviet Union, but the city was very friendly and we found a coffee place which had the best coffee I've had so far in Ukraine. Will be coming back!

Soviet style...

In the Soviet Union Dnepro was one of the key centres of the nuclear, arms and space industries in the Soviet Union. In particular it is home to the Yushmash, a major space and ballistic missile design bureau and manufacturer. Because of its military industry Dnepro was was a closed city until the 1990s.

Found a Lenin monument!

No more Lenin on the central square...

Support for Maidan

Public transport

Affection

Lada

The sun will soon rise for a better future for the people of Ukraine

I visited Kiev for the first time a week after the horrible events at Maidan Nezelezhnosti or the Independence Square, the central square of the city which was the centre for Euromaidan. Kiev is a beautiful city and at most places it was hard to imagine the horrors where more than 100 men and women lost their lives. The hardships for the country continues but i hope that the sun will soon rise to a brighter future for the proud people of Ukraine.

The week after the shootings the city was still a war zone...

...and the barricades were still there...

...but is was cleaning up time

Signs of the horror were still present...

...and people were mourning the lost ones

 But people tried to stay happy and give support to each other...

 ...and hopefully the sun will soon rise on a strong and calm Kiev again!