Putin surrenders, eating fur coats and boys in Bakhmut: what they are talking about at the largest ice rink in Ukraine and what the prices are

On December 24, the largest ice rink in Ukraine opened in Kyiv. The location was created at the Ice Stadium and will operate until the end of winter from 10:00 to 21:00.

Visitors were provided with a kiosk selling hot drinks, mulled wine, sweets, and street food. Half of the profits will go to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The ice rink is only in its second year, but it has already gained the favor of Ukrainians. Last season, over 30,000 people visited the Ice Stadium.

A reporter from Gazeta.ua visited the Ice Stadium and listened to what people there are saying. She talked to visitors and learned how they assess the year 2022 and how they will celebrate the holidays.

Next to the metro station Ipodrom, behind the bus stop, men with drills in their hands hang a large banner on the green fence. 'The ice rink is open' announces to passersby.

We walk along a wide road to the main gates of the Ice Stadium, where a barrier was set up near the guard's booth. Behind a large sign on a frame arch opens a spacious square interwoven with paved sidewalks between the traffic lanes.

The warm humid air mixed with light fog. Piles of ice still remain near the curbs. We avoid puddles with melting snow, and our heads spin from the intoxicating aroma of spicy mulled wine. Under the ice rink, a wooden kiosk was set up. Round tables and a large pot of red wine with oranges and cloves steam in the cold wind nearby.

To the left, in an old building, tickets are sold through a small window. The entrance fee is 100 UAH (time is unlimited), and if you don't have your skates, you can rent them for 150 UAH, while instructor services cost 200 UAH/hour. Sharpening skates costs 50 UAH.

Combatants can visit the ice rink for free from December 24 to December 31 and from January 14 until the end of the season. Pensioners and orphans will receive a 50% discount with proper identification.

On a bench under a canopy from which melting snow drips slowly, men and women put on skates. They pull warm knitted socks over their feet. Skates can be picked up with a separate ticket inside the building in a small compartment where they have them available in any size.

Visitors carefully step along the rubber path to the ice rink, holding their children's hands. At 12:00, there are not many people, they will come closer to the evening. The last preparations for the season's start are being completed by the project organizers, who help distribute skates and find sizes for visitors.

A man in a black fleece sports suit is constantly talking on the phone. He nervously looks around and asks visitors what they need help with. He has tired eyes but still greets people with a smile.

Together with familiar entrepreneurs, Vitaliy Tano has been opening the New Year's ice rink for the second year. He explains that he has barely slept for three days.

I have been involved in big projects for a long time and I like to do everything on a large scale. Last year, my colleagues suggested creating an ice rink at the Ice Stadium, he recalls how the idea came about.

The ice arena covers an area of 6,000 square meters, built in a circular shape with a central tribune. It is surrounded by a wooden lacquered fence under which tall perennial pines grow.

Before the full-scale invasion, Vitaliy Tano was involved in the development of large children's entertainment centers called Fly Park. After Russia's invasion, he decided to temporarily close the centers and began volunteering with friends.

Everything here is sports-related, it develops. Last year, there were over 30 thousand visitors. This year, we opened up, having increased the ice thickness by 15 centimeters, which is the best one today. The main idea here was not about money. Since February 24, our entire team has been helping. We closed the centers and completely switched to supporting the Armed Forces. We traveled to Borodyanka, Vorzel, Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel. I've spent over 10 million on this. Just last week, we delivered 'ambulances' to the front lines, and today our guys are already in Bakhmut. Many here criticize us and say that it's not the right time to open something like this. But mostly, we give all the money to the army.

Entry to the ice rink will also be free for temporarily displaced persons. This year's project was supported by the youth and sports organization.

We no longer think about money

We no longer think about money; we just want this war to end. We want to help the guys there because we are very grateful that we can skate here, as without them, none of this would exist. We have prepared as best we could; it may not be 'Euro', but people love us. Cars keep coming, and by the evening, there will be many visitors. Professional athletes can come here and practice. The ice is smooth, even though it's four degrees outside, it rained, and we have already skated here.

Vitaliy has not yet decided how he will celebrate the New Year and Christmas but is confident that he will do so with his closest people.

I will celebrate quietly somehow. Thank God for this New Year, because when it was February 24, I did not know how much more God would give me. I lie down to sleep like this, with a gun next to me, ten magazines by my side, and I had everything next to me. I wait, praying that God forbid there is no breakthrough somewhere, says the businessman at last and takes calls that keep coming.

The number of people at the ice rink is increasing. The ice is slowly starting to melt, and shards from the sharp blades of the skates scatter in various directions like sparks. A guy in a beige short jacket confidently approaches the edge of the rink. He stands firmly on the ice, although every now and then he gets caught in the ruts on the ice.

The ice rink is not ready yet. We needed to wait for the frost because it is difficult to skate with low temperatures, says 17-year-old Artem Sorokin, without stopping, and makes a circle around his axis. But when the frost comes, we can skate; I like it here; I came last year.

Big music speakers have been set up near the house over the ice. Christmas music fills the square; from time to time, the national anthem of Ukraine plays, and then the host of the radio program reads the main news of the day. Artem stops at the edge of the ice rink and shares that he goes ice skating every year.

For me, it's a festive mood. The frosts begin, the holidays, and snow - I want to go to the rink right away, immerse myself in this atmosphere and have a glass of mulled wine. I've loved it since childhood. It just lifts the spirit, especially during our times, it's very important. Moreover, the money is being collected for the Armed Forces, which makes my soul feel warm, not just the mulled wine.

The guy works as a restaurant administrator. He will celebrate with family; Christmas is celebrated annually on December 25 since they themselves are Catholics.

We will spend time with a circle of friends, relatives, eat 'fur coat', and it will be fine, he thinks, slightly swaying on skates from one foot to another. I live close to Tower; our electricity was on for two hours for three days only. We lived peacefully. If the electricity is turned off during the holidays, that will not be an obstacle. It will only add to the atmosphere with candles. At work, we also have no lights for hours, but we use a generator and placed candles for coziness.

Usually, in Artem's family, men cook every day, but they have a special tradition for Christmas: the head chef is the mother. On this day, they give each other gifts.

We even hang socks and hide gifts in these socks. We hang them on the Christmas tree or somewhere else. Once, they left one for me in the shower, recalls the funny incident from the boy.

In 2023, Sorokin is confident that Ukraine will win the war.

We don’t even guess how close victory is. One must always prepare for the worst, but I think the worst is behind us. If a person can sit three days without electricity and water, then Ukrainians have somehow become indifferent. I don't want to use foul language, wondering why he (Putin, Gazeta.ua) is bombing us. But I think he is already wavering because shooting at critical infrastructure is already 'too much', twirling his finger at his temple, says Artem. But this year has changed all of us significantly. I will not be the same as before.

Suddenly, the ice empties; all visitors are asked to leave the rink through the loudspeaker. Artem gathers speed, barely avoiding a fall as he rushes to get off the ice. A machine for cleaning the surface of the rink comes out and circles a few times, smoothing the ice.

Guests at the Ice Stadium begin lining up at the kiosk. Mulled wine is available here in various flavors made from red and white wine, ginger, raspberry, and pomegranate. Prices range from 120 to 160 UAH, depending on the portion. This is almost double the price from last year. They sell shawarma with chicken and veal starting from 145 UAH, burgers from 165 UAH.

A woman in flared jeans and a short red cord jacket stands by the fence. 29-year-old Yulia Petrenko is visiting the ice rink for the first time, although her parents told her that they brought her to this very place for New Year's celebrations about 15 years ago.

When they told me, I remembered a little. I came with friends, we've been skating here for about 30 minutes now, the woman tells. Now I want to find other skates because these ones are pinching my feet, and when the ice gets better, I'll try them.

Currently, most people do not know until the last minute how they will celebrate the New Year, Petrenko says. But she is convinced that she will spend this time with her loved ones.

We will prepare some great dishes, go out for a walk during the day. I think Ukrainians need to cherish the holiday within themselves. But it should not be turned into a celebration or something overly important. Let the holiday simply be within each of us, and we appreciate it. Even the outages will not stop us; I have discovered Ukrainian crosswords, I solve them, and I learn the language when the light is off.

In 2022, Yulia's main insight was how quickly Ukrainians could unite, she admits.

It's some unprecedented phenomenon. When I was in Europe, people could not understand why I wanted to return to Ukraine so much, home. It's an incomprehensible feeling for me, but it's very deep, the woman concludes and walks away to buy mulled wine.

A woman with curly red hair leans against the fence by the kiosk. Ilona speaks quietly and reluctantly but shares that she works as a school principal.

My main conclusion for this year is that Ukrainians do not know how to take care of their safety, she tells a man with a daughter. It became our task that many teachers went to defend Ukraine at the front. They were replaced by displaced persons.

An elderly man in transparent thin glasses is putting his skates in a case by the bench. He has a strong build and a stern look. He used to play hockey, he admits.

Whenever I have the chance, I try to stay in shape during the winter. I came here a few times last year. I was at VDNH, at 'Roshen', says the man, named Dmitry. And in the summer, I go to the indoor rink at 'Bolshevik'. Here the ice is needed; temperature is not sufficient. If it freezes well, it will be great. The prices are democratic, it is convenient for me because I have my own skates. They give two tickets for skate rental and entry.

We need to join the whole world

The man puts the case into a bag and shares that this year he will still celebrate Christmas on January 7.

I missed the Day of St. Nicholas on December 6 and decided that starting next year, I will switch, admits 43-year-old Dmitry. But I believe that it is correct to celebrate Christmas on December 25 because if we are going to Europe, we need to join the whole world.

A Kyiv resident works as an energy technician at an industrial enterprise. He does not believe that Russia will succeed in breaking our energy system. We will win, he says confidently.

But the work of our authorities this year is excellent. In this situation, I think no president would have managed. Zelensky is doing a great job. I have many friends at war; they are all fighting for our freedom, and we must support them from the rear.

New visitors cautiously walk onto the ice rink along the path. To avoid falling, they hold hands. People come to the stadium with friends, relatives, and small children. The ice rink will operate until the end of February, and during air alerts, one can hide in a large shelter under the arena.