Kharkiv is only 30km from the Ukraine-Russia boarder and is Ukraine’s second largest city. In March of 2022, during the first mission, it was baren with just a few scattered handfuls of civilians. Over two years later, the people have returned they’ve tried to pick up where they left things.

War requires a different type of resiliency. Its a test and one that does not come easy.

Kharkiv was hit hard in the first waves of the full invasion because of its proximity to aggressor. Schools, residential buildings, hospitals and other non-military targets were destroyed indiscriminately. Why? Why would Russia do this if they came “to save” Ukraine?

But… the people are back and the city is alive. The mood was better than expected.