Ukrainians mirror on a yr of loss, unity and concern.

Vira Polakova, 35, an educator, lives along with her son Sasha in Kokhane, Zaporizhzhia oblast. Polakova’s husband, Serhii, joined the military in April final yr. Every week later, he was killed in Donetsk. He was 36.

“I’m scared when there are explosions in the city. But I stand with my two feet on the ground. And I know everything will be okay.”