Kyiv residents mark Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, saying the holiday has taken on a deeper meaning after more than four years of war. “We’ve adapted to living in these conditions,” says Denys Yasyuk, who adds that Ukrainians need to “make time to celebrate” as a relief from Russia’s invasion. It comes as Kyiv hosts a meeting of its key European backers, pressing for critical air defence supplies and more pressure on Moscow, as the civilian death toll reaches its highest levels since Russia’s 2022 invasion.
