Ukraine is never far from my thoughts these days. One can only imagine the fear & hardship that innocent citizens are facing.
Ukrainians are our friends. A proud & hospitable nation that made me feel so welcome in 2011, less than a year before they hosted Euro 2012 with their great Polish neighbours.
Here are a few pictures from my wonderful tour of the now besieged nation. Sláva Ukrayíni!
Kiev Monastery, Ukraine 
Submarine Base Entrance Balaclava, Crimea, Ukraine 
Odessa Train 
Lviv 
Kyiv 
Sevastopol 
Sevastopol 
Sevastopol 
Sevastopol 
Sevastopol 
Sevastopol 
Sevastopol 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Bakchiseray 
Odessa 
Odessa 
Odessa Trams 
Odessa 
Me crouching in front of the steps 
Bon Voyage Statue, Odessa Port 
Odessa 
Potemkin Steps Looking Down – Only The Landings Are Visible 
Odessa 
View of the Potemkin Steps looking up 
Balaklava Submarine Base 
Balaklava Submarine Base 
Balaklava Submarine Base
I shudder to think how many of these beautiful places have been bombed and lost forever!