It was about a month after the start of the war in Ukraine.
Warsaw, Poland in March 2022
I saw this woman near a musician who was playing a Ukrainian song in the center of Warsaw. She cried.. for a long time, absolutely not holding back tears.. I could not pass..
Olena with her daughter and nephew came from Lutsk, Ukraine two weeks ago. Here they met another Ukrainian family with who they spend time during the war in Ukraine. We didn't talk for long, but in that short time I felt in every cell of my body how hard it is for everyone now, how often we all feel the loss of the ground under our feet. And I also felt that I can now share with you the stories and portraits of women who decided to leave the country, their home, relatives because of the war that Russia started in Ukraine. It gives me direction and meaning in my life today, and I hope it will benefit others in some way.
And I want to say how much light there is now in this darkness. How complete strangers become relatives, open their hearts, their homes with great love and trust. When I left Ukraine, I promised myself that I would learn to trust myself, people and life, despite the fear that is of course. These people show me that you can trust that there are so many people in the world who really want to help. I will definitely try to tell about this experience and about these incredible people.
Warsaw, Poland in March 2022
Nastya strives to start a new life in Norway in peace and safety, with a broken heart but with the intention
to live on. She spoke about the feeling of the days that have passed, and now. Oslo, Norway in April 2022
On February 25 I left Vorzel for Dmytrivka (in the region og Kyiv) and on February 26 I continued to Western Ukraine (the region of Volyn). I didn't couldn’t stay at home anymore. I saw and heard a lot.... At the time when I was there it was not so scary, I was not aware of all the horror happening around me. Still there was only one desire and one conclusion: we needed to move on... I lost people I knew... The war knocked the earth from under my feet.
Work, home, routines of life in Kyiv, meetings in cafes with friends – they are all a thing of the past.
Why Norway? (smiles) I worked for a travel company and visited the country often. It's calm in Norway, I'm good here.
Two weeks in Western Ukraine in a small room with many different people made me realize that I did not want to stay in Ukraine. I asked God to help me understand what to do next. It was very difficult for me to grasp what to do. One day we were told that there would be a bus going to Oslo. It was a sign, it was a way out.
There are important things in my suitcase - documents, laptop, phone, money and the Bible.
The help of my friends is so important to me in this story, because if it wasn’t for them, who knows whether I would have left Vorzel and whether I would have survived.
At the moment, the most important thing for me is that all my relatives and friends who remained in Ukraine are all alive and well!
When I am scared or lonely (loneliness amongst people is a marker of migrants), I go to the silence of nature and start praying, feeling thankful for everything I already have. Then comes peace, which gives confidence for the day ahead. What inspires me the most now, is the nature around me.
I met Inna on April 2022 in Oslo, Norway.
I asked her:
Inna, what value do you take away with you from this story?
This is an experience. A valuable gift. For me and my children. Their pain, hatred, love, fear, surprise and delight will stay with them forever. They will tell their children about it, about what they saw with their own eyes, felt with their hearts and lived with every cell of their bodies. No one will tell us what to do or how to do it…. how to think. Their freedom is engraved with light and gold in their hearts. So expensive, but forever .
Do you want to share something that’s important to you?
In 2014, my husband went to the anti-terrorist operation in Eastern Ukraine. It was scary and difficult. This is my second war. And it is completely different. Therefore, I can say that every time you get up, it can be even more difficult. But every time you will find the strength to get up and go on - to see how the sun shines light on your heart and soul. And don't forget to say how much you love someone – all the time!
What is most important to you now?
Find yourself. In all senses. Listen, notice. Hear your body, listen to your thoughts, be able to stop. Last month was a time of horror, anger, grief, uncertainty, tears, despair and unspeakable pride for our people. It was also a sincere thanks to those who responded to help. It feels like you're flying into an abyss, clinging on to something and falling again. You fell. Then you came up with a plan to get out, a second plan, and you fail again. Bottom after bottom. And you had no idea how low you could fall and how horrible it would feel inside. But it is important to stop and remember that you exist, you are you, and you are truly alive. And a dream. Just get through the day and survive the night. A dream that will allow you to smile, hear your heart and live with hope! The dream of spreading your wings will give you a feeling of thirst for life.
Ulyana misses her dad very much: "The hardest thing in this whole story was saying goodbye to my dad, he is very important to me. When I talk to him, I always cry. There are days when you think about losses. And how at one point everything can change. I dream of returning home and meeting my dad. " Oslo, Norway in April 2022
"We woke up on the morning of February 24 around 6 am, packed our things and at that moment everything lost its value. "Take what you need." I looked at my mountain of belongings and realized: these things are worthless when I’m not at home. Only the phone contains my memory, continuous memories, where the sky is peaceful, there are "funny problems» - notes you made when you lived a fairly ordinary life, in a time when there was room for philosophical reflection, poetry, and quite bold goals. Now, everything is gone, you're a refugee.
From Zhytomyr Ulyana and her mother and nephew went to western Ukraine. Then to Slovenia and on to Norway. They were very worried about their boy (son of Ulyana's older sister): "Last year he suffered two clinical deaths, a week of resuscitation, and disappointing doctors' predictions. He wasn't nervous."
Before writing this post, I wrote to Ulyana to hear how she was doing:
"We are in Oslo now. We were in Råde where we received temporary identity cards. Now we are waiting for interviews and resettlement, living in trailers. Dad is at home now. The further you are away, the more you miss someone and the harder it is to see a loved one on the other side of the screen. It's scary, because I don't know when I'll see him and hug him. It is easier to make a life for ourselves now. The trailer is small, but there is space for me and the opportunity to be alone with my thoughts. I study languages, I try to return to real life. We've been here for a few weeks, and it feels like I've lived a few lives. Everything has changed. I plan. I don’t want to surrender. I want to live, believe, love. "
Svitlana and her daughter Alisa, and their dog Lola came to Norway from Kyiv.
Oslo, Norway in April 2022
Why did you go?
We wanted to help others. We had the opportunity to leave, and this way pass on our home and our food supplies (and we had a lot) to neighbours who did not have their own bomb shelter nor the opportunity to leave their home. We came to the decision after sitting for ten days in a small basement.
How has your journey been so far?
The road from Kyiv to Poland was difficult for us. It was like a test of humanity. Even now we are remembering painful, horrible memories.
How are you now?
Now we are safe. We have the support from good people. We thank the universe and all those who helped every Ukrainian. We are thankful for every minute of our lives and the lives of all Ukrainians. We are very grateful!
What are your plans for the future?
We plan to help Ukraine! Support everyone who stays. To win the war, then gather at home for barbecues, and then go to our Crimea on the sea!
When I talked to Svitlana and Alica, despite what they had to go through and despite the loneliness of Alica, they had high hopes for change. I was deeply moved by Svitlana’s words ".. I did not know that I have a family in Norway, but now I know .." Now, more than ever, we value support, acceptance, warmth, security and simple happy moments of life, even on the verge of death.
Marina with her son.
London, UK in March 2023
It is nice to meet a woman who lost so much, but did not lose the most valuable thing - the capacity to see and feel a beautiful moment that makes the heart alive. Embracing changes and exploring something new every day fills life with meaningful.
It is nice to meet a woman who lost so much, but did not lose the most valuable thing - the capacity to see and feel a beautiful moment that makes the heart alive. Embracing changes and exploring something new every day fills life with meaningful.
Warsaw, Poland Warsaw, Poland in March 2022
Warsaw, Poland Warsaw, Poland in March 2022
Warsaw, Poland Warsaw, Poland in March 2022
