Recently, Russia has been ramping up its attack on Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructures using airstrikes to target power plants, water works, and natural gas facilities. With a cold, Ukrainian winter looming, these are all attempts to make ordinary Ukrainians suffer and break their resolve.  This week, the World Health Organization estimated that 10 million Ukrainians—about one fourth of the country—is without electricity. And they warn that the winter will be life threatening for many Ukranians.  

We speak with Nataliya Gumenyuk, Ukrainian journalist and founder of the Public Interest Journalism Lab, about ordinary Ukrainian’s are experiencing and bracing for, now and in the coming months.

Then, we revisit a conversation with Edward Reese, a non-binary queer Ukrainian activist and project manager for Kyiv Pride, who became a Ukrainian refugee in April and was seeking gender affirming surgery.