KIEV -

At first glance, visitors to Kiev today may not feel that their city is the capital of a country that has been witnessing a large-scale war waged by the Russian neighbor since last February;

The scene of life in it has largely returned to normal with the return of two-thirds of the displaced, bringing its population to 2.5 million out of 3.5 million before the war.

Today's scene in Kyiv includes the return of the usual traffic, the movement of transportation and employees in the morning and the parks in the evening, after most of the shops, restaurants and companies opened their doors again, and many of the debris of wrecked cars and security barriers that cut off roads or were pushed aside;

Some of its earthen mounds became a place for weeds to grow.

The famous "Kreshatik" street leading to Independence Square (in the center of the capital) - near which most of the main government headquarters are located - returned to its usual hustle, and pedestrians no longer care about the sounds of sirens that sound from time to time, as if the matter no longer concerns them.

In addition, Kyiv - which was threatened months ago - has today turned into a haven for thousands of displaced people from the inflamed eastern regions, as was - and still is - the case of the "more secure" western Ukrainian cities.

A residential building burned down by Russian bombing in the Svyatoshinsky district of Kyiv (Al-Jazeera)

pain and suffering

But the scene of life in the capital hides the painful aspects and suffering imposed by the war on tens of thousands of families, and it is difficult for many “returnees” to ignore them and believe that their lives have already returned to normal, in light of continuous warnings from the authorities confirming that the danger to Kyiv has not ended, and calls to wait before Deciding to return.

In the city's Svyatoshinsky district, Vitaly stopped, looking from the inside of his car at the building in which he lived, after it was completely burned by Russian bombing at the beginning of last March.

In response to a question about his feelings, he waved his hand in a careless sign that reduced the scale of the calamity, and said, "This is all compensated, I thank God that my family is safe and secure now in Poland."

But he continued, "I am saddened by her separation, and not being able to make the decision to return, so that she will not be in danger again. I hope something will change towards more clarity before the start of the school year in September, otherwise the children will have to go to school there."

Vitaly's situation is identical to that of many who returned to their homes and work in Kyiv without their spouses or children who remained in European countries of asylum, so that train and bus stations became daily a place to receive and bid farewell to wives and families within the framework of "short visits that do not affect their status as refugees, and on the aid that they receive." They get it in this context," a number of them told Al Jazeera Net.

Ukrainians leave Kyiv after visiting their families for a short period, for fear of renewed danger (Al-Jazeera)

Annoyances

The security and social aspects are not the only inconveniences that the war left in the lives of the people of Kyiv, but there are other matters that are no less important and influential.

In contrast to the first days and weeks of the war, the population hardly cares about preparations for air threats, but they are well aware that the danger of war returning to Kyiv remains, given the fortifications and camps that fill the roads leading to it and the surrounding forests.

The population’s talk also does not stop about the crisis of fuel shortages and its high prices and the long queues in front of the few operating stations, as well as about the decline in the value of the Ukrainian hryvnia against the dollar and other currencies, and how this led to record jumps in the prices of many foodstuffs, goods, services and transportation.

This is in addition to the fact that many imported goods are absent from the shelves of shops and electronic stores, due to the closure of airspace and ports to aircraft and ships.

Talking about tourism and recreation may be excessive and exaggerated in complaining under the impact of the war, but Ukrainians are deprived in 2022 for the first time since independence from traveling abroad for the purpose of rest, and from visiting the forests on holidays, which was considered one of the “annual priorities” for many of them. .