Chandeliers and avatars: how conflict spawned a new lexicon in Ukraine

From terms to mock the Russian foe to those that mask the grim reality of war, new usages abound

It was once a superstition only among Ukrainian air crew: the word last", especially in the context of a last or final meeting, should be avoided as it denotes a premonition of death.

In its place air crew would say krajne, which translates very roughly to English as on the edge".