Consequences of the shelling of a school in Zhytomyr. Photo: UNIAN
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. The war, without exaggeration, changed the lives of each of us. We have created the “Diary of War”, dedicated to the struggle of our state against the occupier. We invite students, journalists and historians to share their thoughts with us. They will describe their perception of these events. Today, a journalist and volunteer Iryna Soroka shared her thoughts with us.
War. The first, second, fourth… The war lasts sixteen days. Sixteen? Really? Only yesterday was the second day. I boldly declare that the first week of the war is an eternity of thousands of deaths, births, victories, defeats, losses. Today is the 16th day and I have lost the certainty that it will end soon. However, I definitely do not lose hope and faith that the victory will be ours. After all, how else?
Two weeks of suffering. They turned the consciousness upside down, not only mine, but everyone’s. On the 11th day of the war, I realized that I had lost everything. I lost her dreams. Yes, I agree, it sounds very selfish, because I’m not the only one in such a condition, but still. At present I have fallen into depression. Only the awareness of how to deal with it calms me down. Moreover, now people from all around can get help and support from both a psychologist or an indifferent person. Nowadays there are a lot of people who are ready to express support for a complete stranger, and that’s cool, because “If I were him (you perfectly know who I am talking about), I would also like you to feel lonely!” He did not succeed: Ukrainians are not only strong and fearless, but also always ready to lend a helping hand to all who need it!
The reality of war is full of persistent pain and different fears. Sleep is lost. People are gripped with anxiety that never goes away. Every morning, after waking up people read a bunch of new messages:
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine has repulsed the enemy’s attack”, “Occupiers seized nuclear power plants”, “People block tanks with their bare hands”, “Unarmed heroes”… I often scroll the feed while hearing shots and I don’t run. I stay put. I’m scared, but I’m still sitting in my castle. Home is my fortress, home is my place of strength, home is where it is not scary, and where we are all together!
I started reading more, watching less. Mobile internet is getting worse every day, but it’s not scary. Currently, the channel, where I worked for three years, does not broadcast, but it is not a problem. I`m looking for reasons for optimism and a new job. As for the latter, why look for work – there is one. Every day, every morning, I go to school, the local club and help the Armed Forces, Territorial Defense, and just everyone around, hand in hand with other not indifferent people. We are together! We are united!
To be continued…
Author: Iryna Soroka, journalist, graduated from NAU, Faculty of International Relations, finished her master’s degree in journalism. My hobby is to collect and record folk songs of Cherkasy region along with performing them. Nowadays I find stories about the lives of women during the Second World War and of the present one. Volunteer.
Translator: Bohdana-Nikolietta Terekhina.
