Following another week of intensive and lethal Russian bombardment of Ukraine's cities, a composite image has been doing the rounds on Ukrainian social media. Underneath an old, black-and-white photo of Londoners queuing at a fruit and vegetable stall surrounded by the bombed-out rubble of the Blitz, a second image - this time in colour - creates a striking juxtaposition.
Taken on Saturday, it shows shoppers thronging to similar stalls in a northern suburb of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, while a column of black smoke rises ominously in the background. Bombs can't stop markets, reads the caption linking the two images.
The night before, as the city's sleep was interrupted once again by the now all-too-familiar booms of missile and drone strikes, two people were killed and nine others injured. The implication is clear. Rather than destroying public morale, Russia's dramatic ramping up of attacks on Ukrainian cities is conjuring a spirit of resilience reminiscent of 1940s Britain.
When I visited the market - with the black fumes still billowing from a nearby missile strike - that sense of fortitude was evident, but there was plenty of fear too. Halyna, selling dried prunes and mushrooms at the market, expressed skepticism about the future of her country amid the ongoing conflict.
In my opinion, according to the scriptures of the saints, this war hasn't even started yet. It will get worse, way worse, she said. A shopper, visibly shaken, recounted how her house trembled from a nearby blast.
The stark reality remains: inspiring memes about blitz spirit are one thing, but the far more pressing question for Ukrainians is how to stop the fighting. In the backdrop of their resilience, discussions about appeasement have resurfaced in global politics.
As the war enters a new phase, with brutal stalemate on the battlefield and increasing attacks on civilian infrastructure, the implications of negotiations versus continued military action are under intense scrutiny.
Ukrainians have voiced clear sentiments: Russia only responds to force. History warns against the dangers of appeasement, as echoed by political leaders recently. How to manage international relations, and the real cost of civility in warfare, confronts global leaders.
As calls for support continue, this painful period in history may inform future diplomatic discussions and strategies against authoritarian powers.
