Extraordinary and desperate volunteers Mykola Eismont and Nadiya Anokhin shared their experience and told for interview of the project “Life and war: 10 Ukrainians – 10 stories” about the changes in their lives after February 24 and about their help from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and immigrants.
(Photo: Nadia Anokhina with friends, from personal archive)
-Mrs. Nadiya, you are the organizer of the university for adults UDL 50+. Tell me, what is his purpose?
-Nadia: I want to tell you, we have students. We are students, you see, we are in form, this is our form, so we are a university of adults and we gathered to decide how we can help. For example, if people came, we made beds to give them shelter, because many people came to our region. Accepted refugees immigrants This is such a volunteer center headed by Zharkov Natalia, was created in Smila. Our listeners began to cooperate with it center Performed work, for the needs of the Armed Forces, wove camouflage nets, bags were sewn, they are needed for automatic machines. They made little angels for them, and they (the military) are still asking for such to be made for them. They did fair, donated to the Armed Forces, then made canned goods, collected cans of homes, neighbors, carried to school to find these banks. When Nikolaev ran out of water, we collected flasks to fill with water.
Worked as much as possible. The team is friendly, we help each other and we make toys to sell and donate to the Armed Forces.
-How did the events of February 24 break into your life and were you ready for of such a scale?
-Nadiya: The war caught everyone by surprise, that’s understandable. Speaking of me, then I practically did not hear the explosions when the children came with nets and bowls and they say: “Mom, the war has started.” And the first thought: “What to do?”. The explosions sounded not far away, then everyone heard, but we didn’t go anywhere, the children didn’t go anywhere either, we were all at home. Yes remained.. Our family did not leave, friends are sitting here too. Almost everyone remained with us, because we have central Ukraine and there are not many of these bombs was
-Mykola: No, I wasn’t ready. It was somehow a little very hard and not understandable The first rockets that flew at Gostomel were the first explosions more in the Irpen area. No one was ready for this … Learned about the plane “Mryu” that crashed, and I was working at that time in Gostomel … I was not there ready… On the fifth day, I went to the window and saw a tank with a letter “V” realized then that it was time to leave Irpen, because things turned out like this circumstance.
-When something valuable is taken from you, it hurts, and when they enter your home is a double pain. Mr. Mykola, what did you feel when you realized that Russia is somewhere nearby and it can use a lot driving forces in relation to your house?
-Mykola: I didn’t even realize that right away. This is very difficult to understand. IN I have a disabled neighbor who lives next to me, he also had to be picked up, because he is not could walk, but if he stayed he would … how can I tell you .. No water, no light I would just have to…
-How do you feel about how Russian public figures support war?
-Nadiya and Mykola out loud: negative.
-Do you think people should report on their accounts and close their accounts as a protest or social. embargo to these events that are happening?
-Nadia: I don’t think it should be closed. Everyone needs to know about this. convince them and give examples. But it does not reach them, so to speak not enough at all. We are neither brothers nor sisters now. Maybe they have it dictatorship, they are afraid of everything, but we need to bring it to the community, that this is a war, this is a disaster … children do not go to kindergarten … children are in bomb shelters..how not to prove it?
-Mykola: I believe that it is necessary to convince. I have relatives in Moscow who grew up in Poltava region, lived together with my mother, and in 1947 they were starving I talked with them before, and now I show them Irpin, burned down houses, and they say: “You are (bombing) yourself.” I am them I convince, and they: “You broke it yourself.” It is very difficult with them communicate, but somehow have to explain all this to them, even though they don’t believe
-How did you leave your homes? How was it?
-Nadiya: We didn’t leave, we stayed where we were, as we were shelled were smaller. We now have an air alert, but there have been no mass strikes, then people did not really leave, but on the contrary, they took in refugees. IN trains ran daily in the city so that people could evacuate. People from the region left, but none of us left. Only the ZSU helped and worked in volunteer centers.
-Mykola: On March 5, when I saw the tank, I took my mother-in-law from Buchi and a neighbor a disabled person who lives next to me and is already in the corridor across the parking lot was leaving Roadblocks were already broken there, cars were broken. Already there was a broken Russian BMP. It so happened that we skipped the roadblock until 12 o’clock, and after, that checkpoint was already Russian. I went to Khmelnytskyi, where he was born. It usually takes 4 hours to go there, but as it was a lot of roadblocks, it took more than 10 hours. On March 10, my daughter from Borodyanka also came there, to Khmelnytskyi. They also fled from Borodyanka.
-What difficulties did you face during volunteering?
-Nadia: We are so obedient, we had no difficulties and they did not scare us. Now we are writing the history of a new successful Ukraine, but for this we all need to do it need to unite. Well, there were no such difficulties for us. They sewed themselves in office, there are flags, bags, but all this is as if from the heart and we have everything. There is no such thing in us that something does not exist; it does what we want there are: we have materials there for toys, dolls, which we also make at fairs implement and donate to the Armed Forces with such money collected for UAVs. Us no one is financing, we are financing ourselves.
-Mykola: I had problems: the equipment was damaged, but it is in working condition was, without stakes without anything, people worked in the forest, in the field, to lay a water pipe from Kyiv. It was very cold. With fuel too there were problems to drive to Kyiv – it was necessary to spend 4 hours until then you will pass the checkpoints, even though it took 15 minutes in peacetime. Fuel to take in Kyiv and to bring it here – 4 hours in one direction was all you had to go. Spare parts are the same. Ten of us lived at my place. It wasn’t either a little hot There was no light, no gas, food was prepared on a stove. However, everything will be fine, Ukraine!
-With the beginning of the war, what did you do to preserve your psychological well-being will I Have you received professional psychological help or yourself did you somehow escape?
-Nadiya: Well, it was easier for us, because we have a university: we went to classes, we communicated with each other, (supported each other), had conversations, they calmed down themselves, helped those who were very nervous. We have it there opportunity, we have classes there, engaged, distracted. But worries there were, of course, power outages, there was no Internet. That’s all but we were worried. We are in central Ukraine, we have not had such explosions, it was calmer, the houses were not damaged, although they were partial some hits
-Mykola: He was engaged in physical work, sports, and they also supported one thing one And when I returned back to Irpin, there was no time for anything to think, I had to work and that’s all.
-Please give, perhaps, some advice on what to do in order to after our victory, the story we are now experiencing is not was repeated, and what kind of future Ukraine do you see?
-Mykola: I see a free, strong, independent Ukraine in the future.
-Nadiya: The same Ukraine should be: strong, independent, and we are indomitable. always ready to help Ukraine.
-In principle, you can say that you have already seen the eyes of war. tell me please, are you proud of Ukrainian youth now? After all Ukrainian youth is Ukraine.
-Nadiya: We are proud because young people wove camouflage nets next to us absolutely, schoolchildren. So we are proud, we are proud of the youth. When she united, the youth are united, and they also help in everything. And in children and schoolchildren really help volunteer work there to do in volunteering in these hubs.
-Mykola: Yes, I am proud of them, this is our future.
(Photo: Mykola Eismont, from personal archive)
-Ms. Nadia, can you explain what your clothes mean?
-Nadia: We are a university of adults. And this is our kind of sport form. When we go to competitions, we wear such a uniform in colors flag Our boys have blue hats, and we have yellow ones, so this is ours form.
-What are your memories and attitudes towards the Soviet Union?
-This is already in the past – the Soviet Union. What memories there are, there was something maybe it’s good, they were all considered brotherly nations, but now you think: how can the brothers attack. And there were 15 republics, and that’s what can be expected from every republic. Well, in general, the USSR is in the past. There was an iron curtain, yes. Well, it’s hard to say. We are from of the Soviet Union. We studied in schools, we studied in universities. But this cannot be expressed. There is no such anger before there are none. But there is hatred.
-Tell me, please, what would you do immediately after winning? Which ones do you have desire?
-Nadia: The girls are talking about the tables all over the street. Such hospitable tables, for everyone to gather. No, I think that we, as a University, need to resume our sports competitions, our travels. I would like that renew
-Mykola: Celebrate! For all of Irpin!
-Colleague Nadia: Gather all the neighbors, all friends, all acquaintances, rejoice, hug, kiss, rejoice, so that it never, ever happens again.
-Mykola: And we must remember who is not with us.
-Nadia’s colleague: Yes, yes, this is the first.
-Do you think America is helping enough, and is it enough? Does it offer resources to fight?
-Nadiya: We thank America for the help, thank you very much. But ours the government knows more, we are dealing with military matters. But we thank the people of America and the president. And not only America, but also other countries that help us to win.
-Mykola: Thank you to everyone who helps, but let them help to win.
-Why do you think the war took such a scale and could it be possible? avoid it?
-Nadiya: Well, I don’t know. From our side, we did not attack, Russia attacked, then, probably, it could have been avoided if, well, they had thought differently. We are not believed that it could be.
-Mykola: We never believed that brother would attack brother. But there will be victory behind us
-Can you share with us what gives you strength, inner strength strength and motivation. Share it with us.
-Mykola: Faith in victory!
-Nadiya: Love for the Motherland and faith in victory.
–Project manager: Dear friends, I want to thank all the participants: who asked who provided the answers, especially our heroes who agreed join and respond. You know, Ms. Nadiya and Mr. Mykola, there is a phrase: “Be brave, as brave as Ukrainians” – it’s about you, it’s about you actually. And thank you for your activity, for your motivation, for your struggle I especially want to thank our translators, because they are us help to understand each other and this is very important. We have left last meeting in this project and take care please. And thank you very much once again everyone for participating.
-Nadiya: We want to congratulate you on the first day of spring, with spring. Here are these we made icicles, snowdrops. And they are called “We are from Ukraine”.
-Mykola: Thank you for everything you do.
-Nadiya: Goodbye, good luck!
-Mykola: Glory to Ukraine!
-All: Glory to the heroes!
