War-life balance with Julia

A weekly newsletter from Ukraine about the people, the everyday challenges, and the strange art of living a life during a war

By Julia Kalashnyk

· Launched a year ago

A century of Ukraine's film costumes burned

A Soviet film about Ukraine sat censored for a decade. In 2026, a Russian missile burned its costumes

Jun 17•Julia Kalashnyk

"Watch out, FPV drones"

How Kharkiv lives with a new threat – and is it really one?

Jun 2•Julia Kalashnyk

May's deadly start

Russia killed 70, injured 500 in the first week of May, as UN data shows. Two emergency workers died in double strikes

May 11•Julia Kalashnyk

Ukraine in numbers

May's deadly start

May 11•Julia Kalashnyk

Ukrainian Voices

“I grew around my pain.”

A Ukrainian widow rebuilds her life — and speaks out to make widows visible.

Mar 20•Julia Kalashnyk

How do Ukrainians get through constant blackouts?

String lights, generators, pure inventiveness. And sex.

Dec 2, 2025•Julia Kalashnyk

People of Kharkiv. Part 2. Missiles, teachers, and misleading words

Tiny warlife balance.

Jun 11, 2025•Julia Kalashnyk

Children in Kharkiv dance amid war

How the frontline city lives under relentless drone and bomb attacks

Jun 3, 2025•Julia Kalashnyk

Guide to living in a city during war

Guide to living in a city during war – part two

Online safety during wartime. How does what we post change?

Apr 6•Julia Kalashnyk

Guide to living in a city during war – part one

Drone and missiles attacks – what to do?

Mar 28•Julia Kalashnyk

What’s in a Ukrainian grab-and-go bag?

What many Ukrainians leave by the door at night

Jul 16, 2025•Julia Kalashnyk

Ukrainian defence & military tech

The robot went a little too far off its route. And saved soldiers

The UGV unit commander on what it's like inside his robot company

Apr 30•Julia Kalashnyk

Ukrainian iron infantry

Ukraine is deploying ground drones to assault Russian positions, evacuate wounded soldiers and much more

War-life balance with Julia