Elderly man in an ambulance. Irpen. Photo: UNIAN
The war that Russia has waged against our country has affected every Ukrainian, left many confused, and many are in despair at complete uncertainty. It is very interesting for us to hear the thoughts of our youth, how they experience and comprehend these tragic pages in Ukrainian history. This time Karina Khramchenko, who graduated from the Faculty of Journalism and dreams of working as an editor in the future, shares her thoughts.
Karyna Khramchenko
On February 24, I woke up at six in the morning in Lithuania and, as usual, picked up the phone to check the news that I had been flipping through almost every 15 minutes since November. My morning did not start with coffee, not with a kiss from a loved one, not with the morning sun, but with… News that Putin attacked Ukraine. In his words, it sounded like a “special operation.” As soon as I woke up, I tried to understand: “Is this a war all over Ukraine? Or an attack on Donbas? Or is it just someone’s ridiculous joke? ” I left Kyiv on February 12 and already knew that something bad would happen soon. This is not a joke. It’s all scary and very suspicious.
When I watched Putin’s video address, I realized that this is a war. And although it is called differently by Russian propaganda, the meaning is the same: our cities will be bombarded and our people will be killed, and all this is covered by the names “demilitarization” and “denazification”.
I was scared for my family and friends. I’m in Lithuania, I have a husband here, I wanted to move here. But I plan to return to my loved ones. It was as if my house was being destroyed. They will irrevocably destroy everything I loved, what I had, what I cared about. Putin’s idea was to destroy everything I had built for years. And not only me, but all Ukrainians.
What is it? Envy? Fear? Hatred? It is unclear. Or maybe everything in a row. I think it’s hard to understand what this man has come up with. But I was scared for my relatives and immediately started calling them, writing, persuading them to come to me as soon as possible.
My parents refused. Brother too. They knew it was almost impossible to leave. The traffic jams did not allow them to move. At that time, trains did not go to Lviv so often. Planes, of course, have stopped flying.
Every day I worry about my family. I wake up and immediately watch the news from their region and district. I watch the news of what’s happening in all the cities, I am horrified and I wash my eyes with tears. I feel sorry for the people, our majestic cities, I just feel sorry for everything that is happening now.
If I can single out any specific words from my feelings, it would be: confusion, fear, faith, contempt, sometimes even loss of hope.
I believe that everything will definitely be fine. I know it can’t be otherwise. Our people have experienced these terrible wars, murders and violence many times throughout its history. We have always fought against this and will continue to do so. But sometimes I’m scared. Sometimes I lose hope for the better. Sometimes I feel bad and I think about what will happen next. When I wake up, I hope it was just a nightmare, but unfortunately it is a reality. Only thoughts about how strong our people are and how weak a nation is that tries to encroach on the territory of other countries.
Sometimes I feel confused. People I considered close now insult me. If I allow myself to smile in the photo once again, I am immediately condemned, because “how can you smile when we all suffer.” I do not understand this at all. I do not understand why I should get depressed and not see the light in thee darkness, when I can give people hope and positive vision, help to look for some advantages, learn to live on. I would rather be a ray of sunshine than a shadow of terrible events.
I feel contempt for the power of the neighboring state. I feel contempt for people who support hostile symbols, hostile actions and justify Putin by saying, “Let him set you all free.” Free from what? From a happy life? Thank you, but everything suits us. You’d better think about what world you exist in and what country you live in, because you will not find happiness in the misery of others.
At the same time, I respect those who try to help us in enemy territory. They put their heads under the guns, and tell the truth, support, call for a ceasefire and pray for the Ukrainians.
I can only say one thing: the whole world is supporting Ukraine and is surprised by our endurance. The whole world is watching how to fight enemies. The whole world is watching us steal enemy tanks with smiles on our faces, how we figure out who’s “ours” with the word “palyanitsa” and how we believe in each other. We are all one people who only during the war realized how friendly we are and how we can help each other in times of difficulty.
Everything will be fine. And how could it be otherwise, when we have such a people and such a thirst for freedom?
Translator: Yana Melnychenko, journalism student, passionate about telling the world what’s happening in Ukraine.
