**The Day I First Heard a Shahed Drone Buzzing Overhead**
I’ll never forget the sound of the Shahed drone buzzing overhead in my normally quiet hometown of Chernivtsi, Ukraine. It was a first for me, and it marked a turning point in the war that has been raging on for over three years.
As I ran home in terror, I couldn’t believe that this was happening in my city. We had always thought that we were safe, that the war was confined to the eastern parts of Ukraine. But today’s attack showed us that nothing could be further from the truth.
The drone attack on Chernivtsi was a blatant act of sadism by Russia. It wasn’t meant to influence the situation on the battlefield; it was simply a cruel reminder that we are not safe, no matter where we live in Ukraine. The fact that this happened just an hour and a half from the Romanian city of Suceava is a grim reality that cannot be ignored.
The war has always been about more than just territory for Russia. It’s about power, control, and domination. And now, it seems like they’re not even trying to hide it anymore. The fact that drone parts have been shot down in border settlements in Poland, Romania, and Moldova should be a wake-up call for the rest of the world.
Will it take more frequent attacks, more casualties, before our neighbors in Europe finally recognize the threat posed by Russia? How many kilometers must war travel before it reaches your doorstep?
Tonight, I’ll be packing an emergency bag with my personal documents and essentials for the shelter. I doubt today’s strike on Chernivtsi will be the last. After everything that’s happened over three years of war, I’m left with a sinking feeling that this is only the beginning of something much worse.
As I place each item in that emergency bag, I’ll think of the dumb luck I’ve had up until now. When someone once told me that I have a “very powerful guardian angel” watching over me, I never thought it would be tested like this. But even angels can grow weary of war.
**The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.**
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