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Photograph via snooOG

HERE УКРАЇНА TAKES CENTER STAGE — The purpose of r/Ukraine is to amplify Ukrainian voices. We are at war, so content is tightly moderated to keep our community safe. Share and discuss Україна and her glorious people, history, geography, language, art, culture, values, and experiences during wartime. Sharing of russian narratives in any way, shape or form is banned.

Welcome to Ukraine!

Ласкаво просимо в Україну!


TLDR : We are trying to keep r/ukraine focused on important or vital information and high-effort contents. Because of the massive influx of new users, we have decided to institute minimum account age and karma restrictions. This an emergency measure, and we apologize for not being able to allow everyone to participate. Please do not contact the mods about this.



Related subreddits : r/ActionForUkraine r/ArtForUkraine r/chernobyl r/gotterfunken r/SupportForUkraine r/Ukraine_UA r/UkrainePics r/Ukrainian r/YUROP

/r/ukraine

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13

Interview with a Ukrainian tanker Part 2

2 Comments
2024/05/15
06:59 UTC

537

Losses of the Russian military to 15.5.2024

54 Comments
2024/05/15
04:36 UTC

114

5:10 EEST; The Sun is Rising Over Kyiv on the 812th Day of the Full-Scale Invasion. The Valley of Daffodils in bloom! And a legend of broken hearts.

The Valley of Daffodils

The sun is rising! Good morning!

The Valley of Daffodils is a wonderful destination located among beautiful Carpathian mountains, minutes away from the city of Khust.

The Valley of Daffodils, also known as the Valley of Narcissus is a unique botanical site that is home to the largest community of narrow-leaved narcissus (narcissus angustifolius) in the whole of Central Europe. This particular species is normally found in high alpine mountain ranges at altitudes of 1100–2060 meters above the sea level... but in this valley, due to its unique biome, it grows much lower - only 200 hundred meters above sea level!

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Welcome to Cozy Valley

I think it is a prerequisite for photographers to take sunrise photos here.

The valley is host to many other interesting plants and animals that usually are not commonly sighted in the dense Carpathian forests. Here, one can find animals typical of the floodplain meadows of the Zakarpattia Plain, like ground squirrels, field mice, muskrats, European hares.

This beautiful valley is home to over 100 species of birds which does not surprise me at all. If I was a bird I would want to live there too. Among them are meadow pipits, chiffchaffs, and gray buntings. But marsh warblers and pheasants and even Eurasian woodcock can be encountered here despite such close proximity to a relatively large town.

The Valley itself is a sight to see during all seasons of the year. But its glory days that attract people from all over the world are usually in the middle of May, when the valley is covered with a flowing sea of daffodils.

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Pillow Fight!

Don't sleep on them! I know it is tempting. Read below for why that often doesn't work out.

The Valley of Daffodils most likely came to existence during the glacial period. Some scientists believe that certain geological cataclysms occurred during that time, and a huge piece of land along with unique plants slid down from the mountains into the Valley. After the ice melted, a lot of water flowed down from the mountains, which contributed to the acclimatization, flowering, and spread of the narrow-leaved daffodils. Over time, oak forests appeared and humans started to develop land, so the daffodil's coverage did decrease, however, people respected this natural wonder and limited the grazing areas and time windows.

During the soviet occupation, the daffodils were not as lucky as the soviets were using this territory to grow agricultural crops on an industrial scale. In the 1980s the valley underwent drainage works destroying a significant part of the ecosystem, including many marshes. Local activists were able to stop the travesty, but 50 hectares of daffodils were already destroyed and the plant coverage underwent irreversible changes. Since 1992, it has been part of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, which is included in the international network of UNESCO biosphere reserves... but to this day the valley is plagued with a lack of moisture in the soil and activities are undertaken to stop further deterioration.

Another serious problem is the mass influx of tourists during the flowering season of the daffodils and sometimes their barbaric treatment of the flowers. Special observation platforms have been built for observing the flowers and the protection of the reserve area is reinforced by extra foresters from other areas of the region. However, flowers are still extensively picked and trampled by tourists :(

It seems what we need is some Mavkas to tickle those who do not respect nature. And if you think this punishment does not sound severe enough, you can read the posts here and here to see that it is no laughing matter indeed.

So whoever visits the Valley of Daffodils should play nice as local residents supposedly have another way to deal with unwelcome tiresome guests. The narcissus itself is a poisonous flower with a fragrance that can be intoxicating and incapacitating. So locals say that in the past people would deliberately fill pillows with daffodils and give them to invaders who had captured Khust Castle in a symbolic (and false) gesture of submission. The enemies slept on these pillows (as the flower does have a sweet fragrance)... but they would never wake up again.

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Legend of a Shattered Heart

Khust Castle.

This valley, like any place in Carpathians, is filled with beauty but also with legends. And here is a legend of how this lovely valley came to be.

In ancient times, there lived a king and a queen in Khust Castle and they had a daughter, princess Rusia. On the outskirts of the city lived a potter named Ivanko. As Rusia grew into a lovely young woman (and pretty rich too), many noble visitors came to the castle with expensive gifts trying to win her favor.

Ivanko also wanted to present her a gift so he made a stunning vase, on which a graceful white daffodil flowers shimmered as if alive. When Rusia saw this vase, and then looked up to see Ivanko, she fell in love with him and he fell in love with her.

Afterward, they began to meet secretly in the valley spending days among the grassy meadows listening to the birds singing. But one day, the king found out about their relationship and went mad. In his fit of rage he grabbed Ivanko's vase and threw it from the castle walls into the valley below.

View from the walls today.

The vase shattered against the rocks and scattered into thousands of tiny pieces throughout the valley. When the sun rose, everyone saw that the valley had transformed... it was covered with a white carpet of delicate daffodils.

Rusia and Ivanko were separated and never saw each other again. And now the flowers in the valley cry every morning for their broken hearts.

Flower community in the Valley of Daffodils, Ukraine.

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If you liked that little legend, we have some more that take place in the mountains of Ukraine in these posts:

Hoverla | Lake Synevyr | Rocks of Dovbush | Pysanyi Kamin

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The 812th day of a ten-year invasion that has been going on for centuries.

One day closer to victory.

🇺🇦 HEROYAM SLAVA! 🇺🇦

5 Comments
2024/05/15
02:00 UTC

55

Druga Rika live in London !

I know nothing about this band but they are playing 5 mins walk from my home.

They seem to have a few gigs around the UK.

Any ideas apart from them being a 'rock' band ?

“Druga Rika” announces a tour in the UK and Ireland in support of Ukraine with an exclusive presentation of songs from the upcoming album'

“Druga Rika” is one of the leaders of the Ukrainian rock scene. They were among those who set the scene and developed Ukrainian music and remain one of the most popular bands in Ukraine. Over 27 years of activity, the musicians have released 7 studio albums, 2 compilations and an acoustic live album “INSHA RIKA”. Their creativity is a synergy of drive, melodicism and tenderness, which, combined with sincere lyrics, immerse each listener in the picture of their personal experiences.

From the very beginning of russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “Druga Rika”, like many of their colleagues on the stage, took on the fundraising mission. Holding charity concerts in Ukraine and abroad has already become traditional for musicians. Thanks to the support of their fans, the band has already collected over 13 million hryvnias to help the Ukrainian army.

In May, the Ukrainian rock band “Druga Rika” will delight its fans in the UK and Ireland with a unique tour presenting a combined program including the best hits of “Druga Rika” and an exclusive performance of songs from the upcoming album. This will be the musicians’ first tour in the UK.

“As this will be our first tour in the UK and Ireland, we decided to make this performance special. We considered playing an acoustic program “INSHA RIKA” but decided to go further. Thus, in addition to songs in acoustic sound, we will present several compositions from our future album for the first time”, – commented the band’s frontman Valery Kharchyshyn.

The band will continue to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine – part of the profit will be transferred to the needs of the military. “We understand that Ukrainians who are currently abroad may be financially exhausted, but at the same time, we must do everything possible and impossible to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this difficult time”, – the band notes.'

6 Comments
2024/05/14
19:47 UTC

4,933

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken performs Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" at Kyiv bar "Barmen Dictat"

395 Comments
2024/05/14
19:07 UTC

284

Ukraine Aid Operations - Volunteer Rima provides an update about the deliveries to the 79th and 25th Brigade which received critical equipment!

3 Comments
2024/05/14
17:49 UTC

1,747

Russia's unstoppable turtle tanks in the Andriivka and Luhansk direction

111 Comments
2024/05/14
16:59 UTC

1,253

Blinĸen and Kuleba try Ukrainian pizza

76 Comments
2024/05/14
16:05 UTC

143

The Tuesday raffle is back! This week: a pin from the fearsome 93rd Mechanized Brigade.

5 Comments
2024/05/14
15:50 UTC

51

Battle for Vovchansk: Russia has launched a new offensive on the Kharkiv region

1 Comment
2024/05/14
15:11 UTC

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