I have created this article so that we, as followers, understand the double emotional life that it means to be Anna from Lviv. My first article was the fairy tale where three queens awakened the inspiring Anna we see in her daily vlogging. But at the same time, there is also a sadness that she has managed to turn into strength and perseverance.

Anna, I will be using three people. Anna your blog Vlog 24: War in Ukraine. genocide and mass murders in Bucha, Irpin. Former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg when he was Prime Minister of Norway. My favorite Swedish artist Laleh Pourkarim. The three of you together can describe the dark moments that all Ukrainians can feel in their everyday life right now.

I want to warn you all that this article is dark and can evoke strong emotions.

The Butya massacre is a series of war crimes in the town of Butya near Kiev. The incident came to light when the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated the city from the Russian Armed Forces on April 2, 2022, when Ukraine announced that the entire Kiev area had been liberated. Russia attacked the city at the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine on February 27. According to Butja's Mayor Anatoly Fedoruk, around 300 dead bodies have been found along with an open mass grave. On Sunday, April 3, the Ukrainian Armed Forces published photos. 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucha_massacre, open in new page)

The same afternoon Anna created Vlog 24: War in Ukraine. The one person who really understands and recognizes the feeling that Anna is in this vlog 24 is the former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. Jens was Prime Minister of Norway in 2011 

The attacks in Norway in 2011, were two domestic terrorist attacks by right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik against the government, and a summer camp of the “Arbeidernes Ungdomsforbund (AUF)”, where a total of 77 people were killed.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Norway_attacks, open in new page)

Opens in a new page

Two days after the terrorist attack, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg gave a speech at Oslo Cathedral Two Days after Terrorist Massacre (English Subtitles). Among the dead were Stoltenberg's friends and the stepbrother of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The Utøya attack is the deadliest mass shooting by a single individual in modern history.

On the 1 years anniversary of the terrorist attack, a memorial concert for the victims was held on Utöa in Osla. Laleh Pourkarim or Laeh (@laleh) which is her stage name performed her song ”Some Die Young.

I will tell your story if you die

I will tell your story and keep you alive

The best I can”

@Laleh

Now we have finally gotten through the dark and difficult and can begin to understand how strong Anna, Jens and Laleh are as people and what their strength means to us as followers. That during 2022 - 2024 we have been able to listen to Anna and experience Jens in the role of both Prime Minister and NATO chief. Experienced Laleh at the 1-year memorial concert after the attack singing a text that touches everyone at that moment. Her conveyance of grief and emotion in the performance.

Anna is more than just a war blogger, her playlists give us pictures of Ukraine as a society, culture and history. Jens Stoltenberg, we still haven't realized how great he was as NATO chief and he is probably the person who has meant the most for Finland and Sweden's membership in NATO. Also building international alliances that support Ukraine. Never before have we had a NATO chief who during his prime ministerial period experienced similar events as Anna when she created her vlog about Bucha. Laleh, she is an angel who has the ability to share and show emotions as an artist.

I want to leave us followers with a quote from Jens Stoltenberg's speech in Oslo Cathedral.

“No one has said it better than the AUF girl who was interviewed on CNN.

If one person can show this much hate, imagine how much love we can all show each other.”

Anna, I can't just leave you with this dark article. 

It would never have been written if you were not the person you are. A person who can balance joy and sadness while inspiring us followers. So a wish of mine is described in this last song, again Laleh. There are English subtitles to the song.

Bara få va mig själv, I'll just be myself.

Thank you for listening and reading.

Lars-Erik Jonsson