Denis (40), Danilo (2)

May 31, 2022, Bratislava. Day 96 of war.

He’s left alone with his 2 years old son. Danilo, although he doesn't speak yet, has an incredible charm with which he conquers all the women around him. His mom died when he was 6 months old. Since then, he and his father have been an inseparable couple. Denis had to learn how to care for a small child. A neighbor helped him at home, in Slovakia he is dependent on the help of other Ukrainian mothers and grandmothers in the center where he found refuge. They flew their homes because of the war, and their destinies were connected by the school gymnasium, which was transformed into accommodation for several dozen people who lost everything overnight. Looking for independent housing is not a solution for him, he would have no one to help him take care of his son while he is at work. His world narrowed down to the construction site where he works, the gym where he lives, and the time when he and his son gradually discover all the parks in Bratislava.

“I left Kharkiv because the war started in our country. We hung out in basements with other people for a whole month, but then I realized it was time to leave. Housing prices are very high in Western Ukraine, so I decided to go further to Europe. I knew it would be Bratislava. I have an acquaintance who has been living here for 5 years. He was waiting for us at the station, took us to the foreigner's police, helped me find my way around here, but then I had to arrange everything myself.”

“We didn't fully understand what was going on on the first day. We heard explosions, but we were not directly threatened. The situation changed on the 4th day, when cluster bombs fell on the city. What was happening outside the windows resembled a hurricane or a tornado. Then there was only destruction, burning cars, motionless bodies of people on the street. It happened that we did not leave the basement for 2-3 days because the attacks were too strong and without a single break. We hastily remodeled the basement. We brought in pallets so that we didn't have to sleep on the ground, mattresses, a water kettle, an electric radiator, etc. About 20-25 people were hiding there, including 3 children. We stayed in only two rooms because the others were flooded. Those who had children tried to flee the city as soon as the first attacks began. Some fled to western Ukraine, some went to the central parts. And us? We stayed there for exactly one month from February 24 to March 24.” 

“I see no point in us returning home until the peace agreement is signed. There are people who go back, but they do it at their own risk. Russian troops are no longer on the doorstep of the city, so they cannot bombard us with artillery, but rockets and planes will continue to threaten us. Also this weekend, rockets hit housing estates in Kharkiv. Living in fear, and running to the basement every time is not life for a family with a 2 year old. I want him to grow up to be a healthy person, without mental problems.” 

“From Kharkiv we got to Lviv by evacuation train, then we went by Red Cross bus through Poland. There were no direct connections to Uzhgorod, only for money. The volunteers advised us exactly these buses that took us to Europe, and there we could travel wherever we wanted. This is how we went through Przemyszl to Prague, and from there to here. There was also an option via Krakow, but it was a night train with a transfer at 3 in the morning, which was not suitable for such a small child. We arrived in Bratislava at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. In total, the trip took us 3 days. We traveled by train for 26 hours in Ukraine alone. The train could not go faster because of the ongoing fighting and shelling. We were supposed to arrive in Kyiv at 10 in the evening, but we didn't arrive until one in the morning. The train in front of us was hit and 3 carriages were damaged. Fortunately, no one died, but people got injured from broken windows. When we went by train, we didn't really know where we were going, what kind of life we ​​were going for, the important thing was that we went as far away from the war as possible. We had only a minimum of things with us. In Lviv, we met a lot of volunteers from America, Ireland, and Poland.” 

“It doesn't matter that we left all our things at home. We took only clothes for our son and a few things for ourselves with us, plus food for 3 days. Here we received some things from the humanitarian aid, we bought something. It's hard to leave like that, but it's harder to watch a bomb fall on the house next door. The basement may save you, but no one knows when or if they will dig you out of the ruins. My boss also hid like this. Their 8-story tower block was hit and 40 people were trapped under the rubble. She survived, but she said that she would not stay in Kharkiv a second longer. Today she is in Germany. Her place of residence no longer exists.” 

“I keep in touch with most of the people I know. Unfortunately, one did not survive, he joined the militia and died. It happened a few days back. My godfather is also in the army, but he's fine so far. I don't have parents anymore, and my brother and I don't talk for some time, so I don't know how he is. My wife died when our son was only six months old. We've been an inseparable couple since then, wandering around the world alone. The main thing is that my son can't see what's going on around him. I managed to find a job and a girl who takes care of my little one while I'm away. We try, we get used to this situation.” 

“Only Putin knows why all this happened. His ambition is probably the rebirth of the USSR, or the Russian Empire. But he miscalculated! He expected that Kharkiv, which is a Russian-speaking city, would welcome him with flowers in hand, but no! The fact that we speak Russian does not mean that we will welcome Russians with flowers. We are a different country, and we have lived our lives there. Before the war, we lived better than the people in central Russia. Just look at how they steal washing machines or baby carriages. One European artist even drew a picture of a Russian soldier carrying a toilet on his shoulder. What happened in Bucha or Mariupol is terrible. Even in Kharkiv, more than 2,500 houses have already been destroyed. Practically every part of the city is damaged, houses, school, hospital. They pretend that they are bombing military facilities, but the maternity ward is not a military facility after all. My son was in the postpartum ward for one month. I can't imagine him being there now. Hospitals were destroyed already after the first week of the war.” 

“My wife had 3 children. One with me, the other two stayed with the mother-in-law who takes care of them. We helped each other while I was home. They were afraid to leave. I knew we were going into uncertainty, but as far away from war as possible. The mother-in-law could not imagine having to leave her home and face uncertainty. I don't know the language, but I'm trying. After all, others also came here and work here, although they did not know the language. Slovak is somewhat similar to Ukrainian and Russian, but of course you don't understand everything. I know that I need time to get used to everything and learn Slovak. Even my friends who have been working here for several years already use professional terms in Slovak at work. The first thing I learned in Slovak was: hello, everything will be fine, I'll call you, yes, one blue please (cigarettes :D ).” 

“I try to go out as much as possible with my little one. He loves to run in the park, or on the roof of the Nivy shopping centre, where there is also a little park. Last weekend we went to see Belvedere in Austria. We would not be able to do this while at home. We would have to hide in basements all the time. There you still have to think about the possibility of a missile attack happening at any moment. The Russians are no longer there, but Kharkiv is so close to the Russian border that they can shell us from their territory. My son has already visited 4 countries. Of course not under the conditions I would like, but we are safe here. I never thought that I would travel just because of the war.” 

“I haven't worked at home for the last two years because I was on maternity leave. When I managed to arrange babysitting for my son with a neighbor, I was able to go and do part-time jobs. I mainly worked on construction sites, before that I worked in this sector for 12 years. Whenever there was an opportunity, I tried to work. Of course, I also had to pay the neighbor, but it was better than sitting at home and not having any money. The neighbor is a retired teacher, so working with children is close to her heart. Here I also got a job on the construction site. We tie the fittings so that the floors can be concreted. We had a shorter day today because we finished the job early and the concrete workers are now on site. We would just interfere. At least this way I can spend more time with my son. I planned to go swimming with him at Zlate Piesky, but it unexpectedly got cold. I've already bought a swimsuit for him, but we'll probably have to wait a little longer for bathing. The weather here changes very quickly, there are mountains and a river. There’s a vast steppe in my part of the country, the weather there is very stable.” 

“I would like to thank you for the way we were received here, for how the people help us. They ask me at home why I didn't stay in Poland. But Poland is already crowded with Ukrainians, and the language is difficult in Germany. I have an acquaintance who lives here, and I knew that if something happened, I would have someone to turn to. I didn't have such an opportunity in the Czech Republic, that's why I came here.”