with an alpine chough - and my loved ones 🗻🤍🕊️

Breathtakingly beautiful 🕊️⛰️

Dreamy morning 🤍🕊✨ with the synchronised swimming team @maxxibop @margate_ben @taralezhkov Documented by @maxxibop 🌊 📸

on any given day I’d honour you but today just gives me an excuse to do it here, my dear @sarahagrill this past year has been kind of a wild watch. life changing for both of us, but especially you. becoming a mother. moving countries. still touring the world. Grammys, Brits, and massive productions. all of it. and somehow you’re doing it while learning this whole new version of life as a mom…in the Austrian mountains, no less 🤍 none of that is easy, my dear. not even close. the standards you hold yourself to is incredible. little sleep, different time zones, different countries, constantly moving… and you still show up fully. in work, in life, as a mother, and as a best friend. we talk less these days, life does that. but you still send me little notes. “thinking of you” knowing I’m busy, far away from anyone close. I value your thoughtfulness so much. I hope this year gives us more time in the same place because I miss you every day. I love you.

“good luck lasting more than three months in this environment” said someone to me, a little over three months ago. my life has changed for sure. every day has a purpose. every day is meaningful. every day is hard. every day learning. every day growing. and every day being part of something that is bigger, as a matter, none of this is about me. it’s about being on the right side of history. it’s about supporting those who need it the most right now. so….this week I signed my official contract for another two years with @defence.builder . as well as I got the keys to my first apartment in Kyiv 🇺🇦🤍🕊️

it’s been nearly two months since I relocated to Kyiv. I knew it would be a big change, but it’s been even more than I imagined. and I owe many an update - but every day I try to fit 30 hours into 24, and I kept this space for personal inspiration only, but this moment feels worth sharing 🕊️ in april 2022 during the early days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, I came across @anmeek ’s account, and soon we went from strangers to friends, and from friends to working together on getting aid to the Ukrainian defenders. now, in my new role, Anton is a colleague in the industry whom I deeply respect and admire for both his vision, dedication and moral. and life wanted, that this week, I found myself sitting across from him in a meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 3.5 years after that first interaction, life did a meaningful full circle. a reminder that even in dark times, a profound moment can grow where you least expect it. it was an honour to speak with Mr. President Zelenskyy, but it was just as much of an honour for me, to participate in the meeting in the presence of my dear friend 🫂🤍 🙏🏼

Kyiv was very loud just hours ago, struck hard again. but the sun still rises, and life insists on being lived. so we drove outside the city, where the apples are autumn red, borscht is served with freshly made bread, sweet grapes are pressed into bottles, and on the horizon, the UPA flag waves the sky. with dear friends, some of the brightest I know, Ukraine’s future feels hopeful and already here. the contrasts of Ukraine are many. and with the weight of war, we are all reminded of the views and moments worth holding onto. and everything more 🕊️🇺🇦 @anmeek @dovzhuk_ @klimov.sergiy дякую за все 🤍

A new chapter. I have recently made Kyiv my home and am deeply honoured to step into the role of CEO of @defence.builder Since 2022, supporting Ukraine has been my personal mission and a moral imperative. Long before this new role, I was supporting needs on the frontline, helping to secure funding, and doing whatever I could to stand with Ukraine’s defence. This new position, therefore, is not the beginning of my commitment, but an evolution of one. At @defence.builder , our mission is to accelerate defence tech startups from prototype to established, investment-ready companies. We provide them with access to top mentors, facilitate investment, and ensure their solutions are de-risked and battle-proven. The technologies we foster not only strengthen Ukraine’s security today but will be crucial to the future safety of our EU and NATO partners. This new chapter combines my leadership experience with the volunteer work that first brought me here. It may be a different arena, but the core principle is the same: bringing people together to achieve something greater than ourselves. For me, working in defence is about protecting lives, supporting resilience, and helping to secure the conditions for lasting peace. Ukraine’s security is inseparable from Europe’s future, and I am deeply committed to contributing where I can. I take on this role with immense humility and respect for the strong foundation built by former CEO @kateryna_bezsudna , our partners at @sigma.software.labs , the @kse.ua , and @buntaraerospace , and our dedicated team here in Kyiv. Together, they have paved the way for @defence.builder ’s next chapter - expanding into Europe and allied countries, partnering with universities and research institutions, defence partners and growing our investor community across borders. Ukraine, and @defence.builder , thank you for your trust 🕊️ [photo credit @andrii_prots_photography ]

stillness before everything new 🕊️

Kyiv, this time you looked at me quietly asking, are you still with us? after 3.5 years, I know the weight of that question, watching the world busy and distracted. the answer is yes, my dear. I keep standing with you. you tell me the truth, even when it’s hard. a trust I’m forever grateful for…especially in the souls of yours I’m close to. we never have enough time together. long, deep conversations turn into quick days. I always leave heavy-hearted. but this time, with beautiful flowers, sweet local honey, golden peaches from Odessa, and with even more love inside than when I arrived. київ, dear…soon again 🕊️🤍

define love; wild flowers, clouds, sunsets, animals, early mornings, mountains, blue eggs and best friends ⛰️🕊️🤍 [last photo is not mine but @jamie_welton ’s]

what I love 🐐⛰️🤍