Olga (39), Mishko (8 mo.)

March 27, 2022, Studienka. Day 31 of the war.

She describes their journey to Slovakia with tears in her eyes. Her son is still a baby, but he is already aware of what is happening around him. He can feel that his mother is worried, he can sense the fear around him. He listens to those terrible sounds he doesn't recognize, the sounds which wake him up.

He moves a little in his mother's arms, lets her speak. He stops her tears with his laughter. They came to us to be safe, so that he could sleep in peace.

"I arrived in Slovakia on March 17 at 2 o'clock in the morning. We were forced to leave our native Ukraine due to the dangerous situation at our home in the city of Dnipro as well as in other parts of the country. We stayed at home for a long time, we hesitated, we didn't want to leave, we hoped it would end quickly. We went to the basement every night. One night after the sirens went off, the bombs really started to fall. The walls, the doors, everything was shaking, it seemed like the bombs were falling on us. We waited for it to stop for two more days, we were still hoping. We thought the situation would improve, but it was only getting worse. I packed up, I took my 8-month-old son Mishko, my sister and niece, and we left Dnipro together. We left home on March 15th. Two days later we were in Ubla. A friend of ours who was already here waited for us at the border. She helped us to find accommodation at Petras', who takes excellent care of us. She and her husband are trying to create conditions for us like we were at home so that we feel good, and so that the children do not think about the war. We just want peace, nothing more! We don't want any more shooting!" 

"My mom and Dad stayed at home, they are waiting for us to return every day. My sister's husband also stayed there, the families are thus torn apart. It was very difficult to leave them. We just want it all to end as soon as possible, let Russia come to their senses and leave. It is a senseless war, because these two nations have never fought together. Our people, their people too, are dying in it." 

"It's awful to fall asleep in the basement to the sounds of bombs exploding. Fortunately, the situation in Dnipro is calmer, but we can still feel and hear explosions there. This is not peace. Most of my friends went to Poland, Hungary or even to France. Those who have older children stayed in Ukraine, but it is the most difficult with the little ones. The children do not sleep, they are uneasy, they cannot handle the noise and the stress around them. Traveling with my son was quite difficult. The trip took us 2 days, it was his first long trip. He was good, quiet, he didn't cry at all at first. But then it caught up with him and he just cried and cried. I couldn't calm him down." 

"There are places in Ukraine where there are no warning sirens. Then you need to download an application that will send you a warning if you are in danger. You run to the basement right away when you get the warning. It's quiet here, very peaceful, but then all of the sudden you hear a beep coming from this application and you immediately call your family to see if they are okay, if they are alive. Many people had to flee to protect their children, for their peace, for them not to cry. We would like to return, but it is not possible yet, the bombs are fired and exploding too often." 

"You would cross the border to see an unknown people waiting for you there. They are all nice, they help, they ask, you feel like you are not alone. You know that you no longer have to look for a quiet place where nothing threatens you. We are in contact with friends who are in different parts of Ukraine. In Kharkov, in Zaporozhye, Lviv, where the situation is probably still the most peaceful. We write each other every day, we talk about how the last night went, we are happy that we are healthy and alive. We believe in peace, we pray that none of us will ever have to see the war again." 

"The worst part is that many Russians do not understand what is happening. They are not to blame, but they do not believe that there is a war, they think that we have lived badly and that they are helping us. But they are killing us, destroying our houses, schools, hospitals. We show them the pictures and videos, they can see it, but they still wouldn't believe it. They don't trust those they know! We want them to believe and to finally open their eyes properly. May God understand that all this is true, that it is not just a fairy tale or a photomontage, but a real life. Innocent children, young boys are dying. Everything will be fine, wish it happens as soon as possible. We believe and we pray! Let as many people as possible survive this war! Let everyone hear the truth, I mean especially the Russians!"