As the summer is coming to an end, Kyiv residents are trying to enjoy glimpses of normalcy amid the never-ending threats of Russian missile and drone attacks and the blackouts, which often follow large-scale strikes that target critical infrastructure across Ukraine. On Ukraine's 33rd Independence Day, celebrated on Aug. 24, mass gatherings were banned in Kyiv as a precaution against Russian attacks. Despite this, Kyiv's downtown was filled with local residents determined to celebrate over the