As part of the “War Diary” project, we ask the youth of Ukraine how they perceive and experience the terrible, but in many ways decisive for our future, war events. These are students from different universities, from different parts of Ukraine, who, despite all the difficulties of the war, continue to study, create, and work. Since the beginning of the war, many of them have been involved in various public organizations, volunteer movements, help our military, civilians, etc. These are young people who have an active public position. This time we managed to talk with Yana Melnychenko. The girl works in journalism, also volunteers in her spare time and is a third-year student at the National University of Ostroh Academy.
Yana Melnychenko, journalist, volunteer, studies at the National University of Ostroh Academy
About my life, hobbies
I myself come from a small village near the border with Belarus in the north of Ukraine. I grew up where there is no store, pharmacy or even a school. Currently, I am a student of the National University, already work as a journalist and am partially engaged in SMM. As a matter of fact, fate has turned out that there are areas that are very interesting to me, such as sports, business and journalism, so I combine them in my professional activity. I shoot, give advice on the brand, write. I will not say that I like all the activities of journalism, there are only certain directions. Earlier, even before the start of the war, which has been going on in our country since 2014, I managed to visit Belarus, which, in my opinion, is no longer a country, but it was at that time. And I liked the Ukrainian border guards so much that I dreamed of joining the ranks of the State Service.Then, by the way, I only envied the cities of Belarus in terms of the cleanliness of cities and roadsides, we have a lot to learn there. However, today’s reality leads us to a slightly different, skeptical vision of this country.
During the war, I was in Poland for a short time, only for two months. I no longer could be there, I still wanted to go home. I can’t imagine how people abroad build new lives and adapt so quickly. At most, I could spend a short business trip in other countries.
How did you experience the first days of the war, what were your thoughts then? What helped to survive these very difficult times?
I met the first day of the war with dozens of text messages from my younger brother with the words “Yana, the war”, I was in the dormitory of the academy. I knew that I had a brother who had been fighting in the East since 2014, and the thought that it was hell there began to cause anxiety. I packed my suitcase, there was some panic, and I went to Rivne to visit friends, there I met my first wards from Irpen and Bucha. Children aged 3 to 14 years. Their stories sent shivers down my spine. I worked as a volunteer rehabilitation therapist, engaged in needlework with them, various psychological therapies. In fact, this helped me survive the first days, although I still live like it’s the 24th. I remember the boy’s story: he told that in the garage of the neighboring yard, orcs [russians] killed a man, and a child saw it, you can imagine, yes. Another said that the trainer, with whom he regularly practiced boxing, was also killed, brutally killed. We made anti-stress toys and you know what the kids did? putin`s grave, canned food with his minced meat, monsters. Children’s psyche is broken forever. Actually, as a child, I dreamed of a career as a border guard and in the early days I scolded myself a lot for not going. However, the front in the rear also has a place, and for now I am here. Maybe someday I’ll be there.
Poem about Putin written by a boy. It’s about how ridiculous putin is, trying to destroy Ukraine
Guardian angel to the defender, work of the boy
What are you doing today? How is your activity related to the war, how has it changed as a result of the war?
Before the war, the plans were grandiose. Setting up my own business, a career in journalism, but now, to be honest, the priorities have changed radically. If someone’s life became okay and they adapted, then I didn’t. It is impossible to adapt to what death brings. I chastise myself for being in the rear, but I know that someone must be here too. Now I work as a regional journalist, and this is a kind of anti-stress, but still volunteering takes place. I donate constantly. I`m still organizing gatherings myself, because I plan to gain a larger audience on Instagram and think about something more. I have friends who need everything: blankets, warm clothes. I direct them to those who can help. I’m not making any big plans right now because I don’t know if we’ll wake up tomorrow. I emphasize short-term victories. I shoot, write and develop. I also don’t waste time on unnecessary things. The war, by the way, gave me the impetus to choose one direction of movement and focus on it, because before that I tried to develop in everything possible.
Now we are all talking about the possible escalation of the situation to war due to the failures of Russia on all fronts, in fact, there are talks about nuclear weapons and various horrors of this kind. However, the fact remains: we are all now living in some kind of horror, fictional world, when most of the time there is no normal access to light, water, and communication.
Can you talk about your experience of “life after October 10”, how did these shellings change your life today?
This was discussed for a long time, and psychologically I was almost ready for this, but I was not used to disconnections, because it is not ok, I tried to adapt and look for opportunities. Fear appeared for an hour after the first blows – then it was released, because the one who analyzes can understand what it is for. I see people got used to and accepted these shelling calmly and this is the worst. Because the reaction of my acquaintances to this was not as fierce as at the beginning of the war. It seems to me that if we were kept in such terror all the time, then we would do more to win. When these rocket attacks started, the light and communication disappeared, I was in a complete blackout. However, I found opportunities to work, study and cook. Of course, I always have my phone and power banks on the charger, but I don’t rush to cook or do laundry right away. I do it in the same way as before the shelling.
Ostrog, Rivne region, from personal archive
How did this war affect your studies at the Ostroh Academy? And do you like learning in general? Do you find it useful in these very difficult realities?
In general, the academy offers a lot of opportunities and is a good university where you can get an education.I don’t regret my choice, because even despite the distance, the teachers try to give everything that is required of them. I like the fact that intern teachers (journalists, cameramen) are involved, I personally judge from my own field. Of course, I moved away from the educational process because I found a job (and here I want to mention that it was thanks to my faculty). Being the 1st year, I already had experience in writing materials, later I went to practice. My second year was radio practice. It was a mega-useful unit, because everything is structured, and you work directly with those you read and hear in the car. Not all universities allow you to go to work after the 2nd year simply because you won’t have enough skills. Higher education has its nuances and disadvantages, but judging objectively, they give everything possible at such a time.
Do you have any favorite publications, books, websites, blogger channels, where you get information about the war, in your “saved” bookshelf? Can you recommend some such resources?
I prefer war diaries that were written by soldiers. In particular, I recommend “Illovai diary”, “Dance of death: the story of a volunteer of the “Donbas” battalion, 3 volumes of the edition “Chronicle of the war” (everything is told in detail), “The art of war” by Sun Tzu. I recommend studying the biography of the repressed, not just from Wikipedia, but also the criticism of others, watch the interviews of fighters years after the Revolution of Dignity. There are moments that clearly outline what could have prevented the war in 2022.
How do you gather information about war to get the most accurate picture of what’s going on? What can you advise?
Follow those on the front lines, the truth is there. Read about those who volunteer and go to the front lines. There is more truth there than even in some media. Know how to analyze and do not be lazy to do it. Because reading is one thing, thinking about it, giving an assessment is another. Do not read one news from one media, look at different sources and always look for the original source. If you see criticism, find out why it arose. There is no smoke without fire. Trust our sources. We have to live in a world where analyzing the situation is our most important task. Cool mind and less quarrels.
Streets of Lviv, photo from personal archive
New Year’s holidays are coming, many of us are mentally preparing for some kind of home holiday, although we are always with our soldiers at the front, everyone is talking about the war. This is a great time for setting goals, making wishes and dreams. For every Ukrainian, the main desire now is the end of the war and having a peaceful life, but we must also continue to live our lives, reach the heights, of course, even if peace doesn’t come soon.
What are your goals and plans for the next year, what would you like to achieve in 2023, despite all the difficulties of our time?
Plans… But there are no plans as such, there is only a desire to do everything possible to win. Of course, like all my peers, at the age of almost 20, I dream of success in my professional activities, to create a solid personal brand as a person – a member of society, and, in fact, to make a contribution to the future of the country. I have such a small dream: to visit the frontline cities and villages in order to shoot videos and show life as I see it. To publish a collection of poems, but all this requires peace and confidence in the future. If back in the first year I would have said that the goal for the year was to earn a certain amount of money and get a prestigious job, as well as learn Spanish, now the goal is to survive and help. Priorities change over time, that’s all. It seems that you are like a locomotive, without emotions, going towards the goal of becoming successful, but walking barefoot along the thorns of other people’s tears, other people’s pain. Materials about the fallen are great to read, but you can’t imagine what the person writing them is feeling at that moment.
Translator: Bohdana-Nikolietta Terekhina
