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Kharkiv: Love in a War Zone

The story of two women, one, Adela Knapova, who gave up her life in Prague for love to live in one of the most bombed cities in Ukraine.

Over the past year, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Eye has documented life in Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, helping to capture the deeply personal stories of those living under the continuing shadow of war. Just 30 kilometres from the Russian border, this Russian-speaking city has sustained some of the heaviest attacks of the war.

Reporter Albina Kovalyova follows the stories of people who have nevertheless chosen to continue to live in Kharkiv. One, Adela Knapova, a writer from the Czech Republic who unexpectedly found love during a visit to this frontline city last year - and who uprooted her life in Prague to move to Ukraine to be with him. He is an artist from Kharkiv, Konstantin Zorkin, who describes his belief in the transformative power of art and love.

These personal stories of love and life are intercut with the violence Russia continues to unleash on this city of over a million people. And they are set against a shifting geopolitical backdrop, of ultimatums and recriminations and talks, as all the while the attacks on Kharkiv and Ukraine continue.

Presenter/reporter: Albina Kovalyova
Producer: Louise Hidalgo
Editor: Rebecca Henschke
Executive producer: Michael Simkin

(Photo: Adela and Konstantin. Credit: Konstantin Zorkin)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 13 Oct 2025 15:00GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 25 Sep 2025 01:32GMT
  • Thu 25 Sep 2025 08:32GMT
  • Thu 25 Sep 2025 19:06GMT
  • Sat 27 Sep 2025 16:32GMT
  • Sat 27 Sep 2025 23:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Sep 2025 04:32GMT
  • Sun 28 Sep 2025 13:06GMT
  • Sun 28 Sep 2025 22:32GMT
  • Mon 13 Oct 2025 15:00GMT