ntv reporter Nadja Kriewald reports from the Ukraine. At ntv.de she describes her impressions of the situation in the country. That things are surprisingly normal in Kiev, for example – as long as you don’t look at the cemeteries.

ntv.de: Nadja, how is it to be in Kiev now?

Nadja Kriewald: The mood here is much more normal than I expected. When we were here a year ago, the city was deserted. People lived in great fear and uncertainty. Now, on the other hand, a kind of routine has set in. People here in Kiev go to work as usual, go to restaurants in the evenings, theaters are open. They try to defy the war and say: We won’t let our lives be taken away from us. We talked to people and we didn’t feel much fear.

Despite regular air raids?

People have gotten used to it. They only go into the air raid shelter in the rarest of cases.

Why this?

Because there is an app that shows what to expect. Are they fighter planes, drones or missiles? If it’s rockets that were fired at Kiev, people go downstairs. Everything else becomes routine. On some days there are several air raid alarms. You can’t always interrupt everything and go to the basement. Of course this is a big risk. Because when your own house is hit, there are many dead and injured.

How is the war still noticeable?

Schools and universities often do online distance learning. Out of fear and because many buildings were destroyed. There is a curfew from 11 p.m. Restaurants and supermarkets close much earlier than in peacetime. But it’s definitely different than a year ago.

Is the anniversary an issue for people?

Yes, for them it is an opportunity to mourn. For all the fallen soldiers, for the civilians. Everyone now knows someone who has been killed. Everyone knows men who are at the front. The cemeteries here are full of fresh graves, no matter the city. New areas are always being opened. You can see from the photos and the dates of birth that an unbelievable number of young men have died. Sadness outweighs fear here.

Russia is particularly attacking the power and energy supply. How do you perceive the supply?

In Kiev it is relatively stable at the moment, but in Kharkiv the infrastructure has just been damaged so badly that 40,000 people are without electricity. There are also many more power cuts in Odessa. But even then, a certain routine has settled in. Times are usually announced when the electricity is cut off. Then you can prepare yourself and, for example, start the washing machine in the middle of the night. The Ukrainians are very flexible there. But of course it gets on my nerves.

How great is the hope for peace?

I think everyone is aware that this is going to take a long time. The war won’t be over in a few months. At the moment, the Ukrainian forces are more on the defensive. In September and October, the atmosphere here was very different. The Ukrainians had recaptured large areas. There was euphoria here. Things are looking bad at the moment. The liberated areas are now threatened with renewed conquest by Russia. This naturally leads to frustration and resignation. You know how many lives are affected. Nevertheless, the vast majority firmly believe in victory. They think they just have to win. So many people have died, they have experienced so much suffering and that’s why they just have to keep going, they say. They say they owe it to those who have already fallen. A young IT developer told me: “We will all be drafted. Me, my friends, everyone. We will all have to fight.” This will be a marathon, not a sprint.

How do you comment on the aid from Germany and the West?

They always want more than they get, of course. The material is also needed, they need main battle tanks, fighter planes and ammunition. Nevertheless, as German journalists, we still suffered a lot. Everyone seems to have relatives or friends somewhere in Germany. They know that they are treated very well there and have been well received. For that they are very grateful. But as for the weapons, they say: “Supply us more. We will also defend your freedom.”

What’s your impression, how much longer can the Ukrainians hold out?

I think for a long time because they know what they are defending. And they saw what would happen if they were occupied by Russia. Not only in Irpin, Bucha and Budjanka. The Russians have committed a great many war crimes. There’s a lot of talk about that too. This is one of the reasons why they want to liberate the areas that are still occupied. That’s 18 percent of the country. They are preparing for many more atrocities to come to light. They know that if Russia occupies their country, they would not only lose their freedom, but many would lose their lives as well.

Volker Petersen spoke to Nadja Kriewald