BIG PICTURE Christmas comes but once a year, but come it does even if a country is in the midst of conflict. The festive lights were put up as planned in Kyiv, even as the threat of random Russian missile attacks continued. These lights run down towards Khreschatyk Street, where locals will head to do their Christmas shopping. Just out of sight is a Zara store, temporarily closed, but Mango is still open. The street itself is Bohdana Khmel’nyts’koho Street, a cultural hub. Alongside these lights is the Kyiv History Museum, the national Museum of Literature of Ukraine, the Natural Science and Natural History Museum, the beautiful National Opera theatre and, nearby, a McDonald’s.
Turn to page 15 for Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov’s insights on the conflict, and page 26…