As Ukrainians observed the traditional Shrovetide festival, the country's fragile security situation and uncertain future continued to overshadow celebrations.
Shrovetide, celebrated from Feb 24 to March 2 in Ukraine this year, is a traditional Slavic holiday marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, played host to vibrant Shrovetide celebrations, featuring festive gatherings and traditional events, during the winter nights.
However, beyond the festivities, Ukrainians are well aware that the shadow of war still hangs over them.
"Even being at this celebration is fighting because we are staying and we have alarms every night," said one participant.
On Feb 28, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a heated exchange at the White House, leading to the cancellation of an anticipated bilateral minerals agreement.
After the tense meeting, the Trump administration suspended the delivery of all U.S. military aid to Ukraine, blocking billions in crucial shipments. What the U.S. did has left many Ukrainians frustrated and angry.
"I am quite angry. It doesn't matter which country or which president - it's important to have some kind of politeness and respect because you have to show this level of diplomacy and everything," the participant added.
"Trump entered politics to enrich himself; to him, the country is just another business venture," said a Ukrainian soldier who had just returned from the frontline.
The festive moments of celebration intensified people's longing for ultimate peace and stable lives.
"Look at this festival, this beautiful tradition. A place full of joy. We need peace," said another Ukrainian.
Despite the celebrations, uncertainty persists, and the timeline for achieving peace in Ukraine remains unclear, with the country's future still largely beyond its control.
Ukrainians celebrate Shrovetide amid shadow of uncertainty
Ukrainians celebrate Shrovetide amid shadow of uncertainty
Ukrainians celebrate Shrovetide amid shadow of uncertainty
Li Yuhua, a farmer-turned forest ranger from a mountainous village in Dulongjiang Town, southwest China's Yunnan Province, has spent nine years protecting the forests in her hometown while helping local people increasing their incomes.
Li's family was once a registered impoverished household, relying mainly on corn farming for living. Things began to change for her family in 2016 when China launched a policy allowing registered impoverished population to work as ecological forest rangers, and Li became one of the first ecological forest rangers in the town.
"When I first began to work as a forest ranger, it was hard for me even to climb mountains, let alone climb rocks and cross rivers. But I told myself that since the country gave me this opportunity, I must do it well. I worked hard to improve my physical fitness and learn new skills, always actively taking the missions of patrolling mountains," said Li.
As Li often wears a colorful, vibrantly striped "Dulong blanket," a traditional clothing of the Dulong ethnic group, the villagers call her the "rainbow ranger."
"I think the name 'Rainbow Ranger' is beautiful. It makes me feel like a rainbow for us women of Dulong ethnic group guarding our homeland," Li said.
Dulong is a mountain-dwelling ethnic group in southwest China. It is one of the least populous of China's 56 ethnic groups, and the people were known for "direct transition" from primitive life to the modern socialist society at the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Most Dulong people live in Dulongjiang Town, where an inhospitable mountainous terrain used to thwart the place's development for decades. The town remained to be one of the poorest areas in Yunnan Province and even in the entire country. Thanks to government inputs and the development of industries with local features, the Dulong people have been experiencing remarkable life changes. In 2018, the Dulong ethnic group shook off poverty as a whole.
Beyond safeguarding forests, Li took the lead in developing non-timber forest-based economy in the town, guiding local residents to grow plants like Chinese black cardamom and wild-simulated lingzhi mushrooms as well as raising cattle and bees.
In 2025, the total output value of the town's non-timber forest-based economy reached nearly 30 million yuan (around 4.3 million U.S. dollars), with the annual average income of 43 households increasing by more than 20,000 yuan (around 2,900 U.S. dollars) each.
Li also established a cooperative for Dulong blanket making, attracting more than 170 women to learn traditional weaving techniques. They have developed 12 types of cultural and creative products, including shawls and scarves, and sold them worldwide through livestreaming, generating wealth for themselves.
"In the past, we only wove blankets for our own use. Now she teaches us to make the cultural and creative products and sell them. Last year, I earned more than 4,000 yuan (around 580 U.S. dollars) from weaving. I spent the money on my children's school fees and new appliances for my house," said Mu Jianying, member of the cooperative.
Li's dedication to both forestry and rural revitalization has earned her widespread recognition. In 2024, she was honored as model of ethnic solidarity and progress and received the title certificate from President Xi Jinping. She was also awarded the title of National March 8 Red-Banner Pacesetter, the highest honor presented by the All-China Women's Federation to the country's outstanding women, ahead of the International Women's Day observed on March 8.
Li said her achievements are the result of collective efforts.
"I often think that one person's strength is very limited, but the strength of a group is great. There are 195 ecological forest rangers like me protecting this land in the Dulongjiang Grand Canyon," she said.
As a female forest ranger, Li shared a message for women ahead of the International Women's Day.
"To mark the International Women's Day, I want to say to all my sisters: No matter what position we are in, as long as we are willing to endure hardship and work hard, we will surely weave our own rainbow," she said.
Forest ranger dedicated to guarding green mountains in Yunnan
Forest ranger dedicated to guarding green mountains in Yunnan
