In Kursk, the artists of the municipal circus staged a return to normal. And "victory," after nine months of fighting to retake this Russian region that was partially occupied by Ukrainian forces.

On the very next day after the surprise attack, August 6, 2024, the imposing circular building was transformed into a relief center for families fleeing the border villages. The ring was closed, the troupe and animals evacuated and volunteers worked around the clock to distribute, by the cartload, bags of rice, bottles of water, toothbrushes and children's books. At the entrance, nearly 2,000 refugees came daily to collect supplies "in a temporary situation that looks to be very long," worried Aliona Agarkova, one of the center's coordinators, at the time.

Since April, the Russian Army has driven out the Ukrainian troops and retaken the 1,400 square kilometers that had been occupied. Amid the circus's colorful banners and balloons, Aliona Agarkova, 34, welcomed the crowds of families eager to applaud the return of artists and animals. "With the children, we write letters to the soldiers. But life is starting again. There will soon be a peace agreement," hoped the woman who has since been promoted to circus manager.

Normalization remained relative. To welcome the public again, several security measures had to be taken: bulletproof glass at the windows, evacuation plans and water reserves. As many as 20 times a day, sirens wailed over Kursk, warning of incoming drones or missiles. Yet no one sought shelter. On April 15, however, an explosion at a residential building killed a resident – the first casualty in the city.

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