Tim MakGood morning to readers. Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.
You couldn't go anywhere in the capital city this week without seeing vyshyvankas, which have new meaning in a conflict where the existence of Ukrainian nationhood is at stake.
Today's email newsletter looks at vyshyvankas through the eyes of Mariya Zarenska, who has spent seven decades sewing and teaching others about the Ukrainian folk garments.
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Now 84 years young, she oversees a traveling exhibition of these embroidered garments.
In the last few years, her eyesight has deteriorated to the point that she can no longer sew effectively.
But she still spends her time teaching anyone who wants to know about vyshyvankas
And though her hand sewing days are over, she retains her role as half-entertainer, half-educator — an ambassador for Ukrainian customs.
Here she is briefing a middle school class on the clothing. You can just feel her energy!
A typical vyshyvanka features colorful embroidery on a plain white background, explains Oleksandra Storchay, a senior researcher at the National Center of Folk Culture, adding that it became associated with Ukrainian culture at the beginning of the 17th Century.
Spotted in Kyiv:
The outfit both unites Ukrainians and differentiates them.
Different regions have different patterns/colors associated. Floral patterns are typically indicative of the Kyiv region, and certain geometric shapes are typical of Ternopil, in western Ukraine, Zarenska said.
This week Ukraine marked Vyshyvanka Day, a day for those supportive of Ukrainian national identity.
Spotted in Kyiv:
During wartime it’s an act of protest and resistance: after all, Vladimir Putin doesn’t believe that Ukraine should exist as a distinct identity.
Spotted in Kyiv:
“Yes, my darling, they've been trying to do that for ages. How many times have kings or tsars been trying to destroy our culture? But they have never succeeded in this," Zarenska said. "And Putin, no matter how he tries, he won't succeed either."
Kyiv also remains under repeated Russian attack:
According to Ukrainian officials, there have been only four nights in the month of May without Russian enemy raids.
Image per Ukrainian govt; building on fire in Kyiv due to debris from Russian drone
These attacks are likely to continue for the indefinite future: Defense Intelligence Deputy Chief Vadym Skibitsky said that Russia has successfully established a production line for new munitions, and is able to produce approximately 67 missiles p/month
Russia continues its production of missiles despite sanctions aiming to deprive them of this. “We will starve Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine,” Ursula von der Leyen said today.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-sanctions-g7-eu-biden-f5edb7c1849548423e8442e69ef14767
Meanwhile, the latest Institute for the Study of War update suggests that Russian forces have focused most of their remaining reserves to Bakhmut in the past 24 hours, slowing Ukrainian counterattacks.
Video of fighting in Bakhmut:
One of the things I struggle to explain to those who are not here is just how much the violence in the city is punctuated by bustling, normal life.
There are attacks, explosions and fires… and then there is this woman breakdancing to to Beyoncé's 'Run the World (Girls)':
Thinking about it, America isn’t really nationally unified by any particular fashion item or outfit. I suggested perhaps blue jeans, and Ross said a cowboy hat or traditional Native American wear. Do you folks have any other suggestions?
Regulær Revolusjonær@timkmak Washed-out over-sized t-shirts?