I just had my weekly phone call with my Ukranian friend/student. I met him through ENGin in May of 2023, and we have been having video calls once or twice a week. We try not to discuss Russia and the war too much, but it is a difficult subject to avoid.
Right now, he is okay. He still has not registered with the Ukrainian military yet, but they is a lot of pressure. The military police have been stopping men randomly on the street to check their military registration paperwork, and now they need proof of registration to continue employment. My friend switched careers to be a software engineer since the war started, but since he is working freelance, he also has a second job to make ends meet. Mamy of his friends and acquaintances have been called to fight in the war, and some are already dead.
I really hope Ukraine and Russia can come to some agreement to at least stop the fighting. If Israel and Hamas can work out a deal, maybe there is room for negotiation between Kyiv and Moscow.
Life with chronic diseases 