Tamara (63), granddaughter (6)

Monday, March 7, 2022, Inovec

Every mother worries about her children. It is not a cliché, this fear is the darkest one that the mother knows. Tamara had to leave both of her children in a country where war rages. She ran away with her granddaughter who she now cares for, replacing her both parents. These women have to be strong on the outside in front of their children. They cannot be falling apart. They cry at night, into their pillows, when no one sees or hears them.

"We came to Slovakia from the town of Vynnitsie, because the war started. We ran to the shelter 5 - 7 times during the night. We were very afraid, especially the children. My 34-year-old son and my daughter, my granddaughter's mother, stayed at home. She works for the police. My husband has stayed there, went to his mother, who lives more than 100 km away and is 85 years old." 

"We are in contact with our family every day. We all hope that the war will end as soon as possible and that we will be able to return to our homeland, Ukraine." 

"We were very well received in Slovakia, there are very good, generous people here. We are very grateful to them, many thanks to them!" 

"We would like to tell the Russians that we want the war to end as soon as possible, so there is peace in the world again. We do not want war and they do not want war either. We all support peace and friendship. We are waiting for the early end of the war."