February 24th changed their lives for Ukrainians. Many of us that day could not believe that soon we would have to say goodbye to our loved ones and leave our homes. Mariupol residents were among the first to feel this terrible reality. The inhabitants of the hero-city are looking forward to victory in order to finally return to a free and peaceful home.
As part of the SVOI project, Channel 24 tells the story of Maria, a native inhabitant of Mariupol. The girl spoke about life in the occupation, the captivity of her military husband, departure and shelter in Transcarpathia, where she and her son are looking forward to the return of the dearest.
“Husband has done for us everything he could and went to the front”: about the beginning of the war
Tell us about yourself – where did you do what before the full-scale invasion?
I am 23 years old, I have a son – he is almost 2 years old. We are from the city of Mariupol. It is very difficult to talk about my family, because my husband is a military man and is in captivity. He passed Mariupol, “Azovstal” and is now in enemy captivity.
Mariupol is our hometown. Everything was fine with us before the war. I taught fitness classes, helped girls lose weight, because I have a higher education.
Everything was fine, I had grandiose plans. My husband and I planned our future lives. He wanted to go to work as a law enforcement officer in order to achieve more and that everything was fine in our city. He is a shoulder and a support for me – so courageous, if he decides, he will do it.
Tell us about your husband – is there any information about him, where is he?
No, unfortunately. I knew that he was in Yelenovka. But now there is a lot of talk about the fact that they were taken away from there. He doesn't get in touch at all. I can only guess how he is.
Maria with her husband and son before the war/Photo courtesy of Channel 24
And when did he last go out in touch?
May 17th. Then he was still at Azovstal. He said that they were being evacuated and that it would be so for now. He had little hope that in a few months, as promised, he would be released. So far, almost half a year has passed. The sixth month he has been in captivity has begun.
I really hope that he will be returned soon. I have already done everything I could.
Do you remember how the morning of February 24th began for you? Do you remember your emotions or actions?
We woke up from a call, the connection was very bad then. My mom called me, she was hysterical. She was on the other side of the city and said that the war had begun.
The husband knew something like that would happen. He guessed, but hoped that this was not true and everything would work out. Then his father called him and said that they were shooting there. He quickly got ready, took the car and took my relatives from the other side of the city and brought them to us, because by that time they no longer had any communication, no water, no electricity – nothing at all. And that was February 24th.
We lived in the city center, we bought everything we needed. My husband wanted to take us out and insisted on it very much, but I said that we would stay. I hoped that everything would not be very large-scale – they would shoot a little and that's it. But it happened, as it happened.
Then we equipped the basement to make it comfortable. At that time we still had communication and electricity, and already on March 2 everything was turned off. There was nothing at all, only gas. We did what we could, that is, we had food and water.
Husband did everything he could for us and went to the front. It was March 6th. He is a military man and insisted very much that this should be done. He must, because it is his duty.
Mariupol in early March/Photo from Anton Gerashchenko's telegram
“Water from a puddle, severe cold in the apartment and hungry children”: about life under occupation
How long did you stay in Mariupol, what was life like there? Which of your relatives was with you?
My parents and sister were with me with my family: her husband and a small child – he was 1 year old at that time.
We First they were in an apartment. Until March 8, we could still be there, even though aviation was constantly flying. We prayed that nothing would fall somewhere nearby, but already on March 10, an aerial bomb fell in our yard.
Arrival at the courtyard where Maria lived/Photo courtesy of Channel 24
At that time, many houses were damaged and many people died because they were cooking on the street. There was no longer gas, because it was turned off on March 5.
People were cooking on the street, looking for a place to light a fire. We ran to fetch water. We had a kindergarten across the road and there was a lot of water left in the system. We ran there to get water and make some minimal supplies, because then there was nothing at all.
Later, when it rained or snowed, it was a holiday for me, because then my people did not yet understand everything. I was collecting water from a puddle, my family did not understand at first and thought it was disgusting. And later they thanked me for thinking about it, because this water was very useful.
After March 10, perhaps a little earlier, we moved to the basement. It was very cold, but it was even colder in the apartment.
After that, there were very strong arrivals to our housebut our apartment is completely intact. This is a miracle, because there were constant arrivals around the house, everything was on fire. But for the most part, our house suffered from tank shelling.
Consequences of shelling by the invaders/Photo from Anton Gerashchenko's telegram
It was very cold for us, the children were constantly screaming. We didn't have one good night. The children were constantly cold and hungry.
Subsequently, people began to get out of the basement and leave. They also offered us to leave on March 15, but we refused. They thought that everything would stop soon.
Maria remembered that by that time the Russian invaders had already entered the city and told all the people, they say, you can sleep peacefully, we will no longer shoot. However, this was just another lie of the occupiers.
“We were isolated from society”: about the decision to evacuate from Mariupol
We could not stand it and already on March 20 we left the city. My sister had a car, but it wouldn't start when we started to leave. However, it was lucky that my husband's father had a car and helped us get out of the city.
What influenced your decision to leave?
Probably the conditions . We understood that there was almost no water. And it was very cold – we had dew all over our bodies. The children were crying all the time. It was simply unrealistic to live. Perhaps, they left only for the sake of the children.
One of the houses that suffered from Russian attacks/Photo from Anton Gerashchenko's telegram
We went to the neighboring village, at 20 kilometers from Mariupol. We stayed there for a week, but did not yet understand that we could not be there. We were so isolated from society that we had no information .
People who lived in that village did not have access to news from Ukraine. Unfortunately, some of them were even exposed to Russian propaganda.
We were very scared about leaving for Ukraine, they said that no one else was taking them out. And we couldn't find a person who could do it. My sister, who at that time was in Kharkov and lived in the basement, had communications. She found volunteers and we left.
Did you know where you were going?
Yes, we thought that when we leave Mariupol, we would go straight to Zaporozhye, but then something went wrong. Everyone was nervous and excited, so it turned out that we stayed in the village. We thought at first that it would be safer there.
We planned to go to Zaporozhye, and then to the West of Ukraine, because we had a friend there who could take our family. And so it happened, we lived there for a month. She helped us a lot.
“The children saved us”: how Maria and her family passed 15 Russian checkpoints
What was the road from Mariupol like?
From Mariupol to the village it was generally quiet, there was no one – only burned tanks. It was clear that there were battles. And when they had already begun to leave along the Volodarskaya highway, Russian checkpoints began. There were 15 of them at that moment.
At first it was calm, we were not touched. In general, volunteers put me and my sister in front, because we were with children. This was done so that the Russian military would see that they should not touch us, because there are children here.
But at several points the Russian military really did not like me. They asked for documents and a birth certificate for the child. Somehow they looked at me very strangely.
Before that, they told me to delete everything from the phone in general, so that nothing would connect me with military topics. In fact, I didn’t understand then how serious it was.
However, then another military man said that there were children there and you shouldn’t touch us. That is, in a sense, the children saved us, because if not for them, the Russians could have found a lot.
We drove for a very long time, about 9 hours. They scared us, they said that we would not make it, because on March 20 many people left and many of them did not make it. As for the checkpoints, we were probably lucky. They weren't very picky.
When we left, there were Ukrainian checkpoints. In general, everything was fine there, we were treated very well, with understanding.
“The feeling of home will appear only when the husband is near”
Where are you now? How did you get settled in the new place? What do you do?
We are in Transcarpathia. We've been here long and well. We hope to stay here for some more time, because I am waiting for my husband. Everything for me relies on this. I try to help release him – I contact and consult with different people, lawyers. But everyone says to wait.
And so I'm taking care of the child. I'm trying to somehow develop, because a lot of time has been lost. I understand that we will no longer return to our city, although our apartment survived.
Do you mean that you will not return to Mariupol while the Russians are there or do not plan at all?
While the Russians are there, this is the most important criterion.
In general, what are your plans for the future?
I will try to realize myself. In general, it is very difficult to talk about this, because I am used to the fact that my husband is always next to me. He is my other half. So for now I can think about the options that I will then offer him and we will choose together.
To be honest, I am scared in Ukraine. I had a chance to go to Europe, and even now they tell me to go. But I don't want to do that on principle, although I understand that it is dangerous to be in Ukraine. I think Transcarpathia is the safest place.
I will do my best for the child to develop, because he is already 2 years old. And the process of development at this age is very important.
Do you feel at home in Transcarpathia?
I don't. It's very hard.
Maria noted that sometimes it is very difficult for her away from home. On her way she meets different people and difficult situations, but she holds on, because she still needs to wait for her hero-husband.
You say that you don’t feel at home in Transcarpathia, but you are not going to Mariupol yet, what can help you find this feeling of home?
I think the feeling of home will appear when the husband is around, only in this case. Even if I were in Mariupol, I would feel empty.
What helps you mentally hold on while waiting for your husband to return?
The child helps me. And the very strength of my husband, because I have him both physically and morally a very strong person. I constantly comfort myself thinking what he went through – he could, so why can't I? Although I'm in a safe place, I have almost everything. That's how I live. And, of course, I hope. Everyone hopes that he will be released soon.
Maria with her son in Transcarpathia/Photo courtesy of Channel 24
“We will definitely go out and meet with the whole country”: on plans for victory
Do you feel that the war somehow changed you? Maybe they began to treat some things differently?
The attitude and moral values have changed. I rethought a lot – everything that happened before the war, what kind of person I was. I realized that I should not worry about some little things and consider it a disaster when people around lose their lives.
And tell us a little about the people you met – did you make friends with anyone?
To be honest, it was generally very difficult for me to make friends in my life. I've had very few of them, because I'm a person who takes everything to heart very much.
We communicate with the locals, but it's difficult to make friends with this. However, I try to constantly communicate with people. For example, I am riding a minibus and trying to talk to someone.
Many people are afraid to leave their homes and move to safer places, what would you advise them to do?
At the very least, be in shelters all the time, but as practice shows, even shelter may not help and not save. But if there are children, then first of all think about them.
You know, in what conditions we were there – we constantly counted sorties and how many seconds the aircraft weapons would be dropped . We already understood this, as well as where it could roughly fall.
After you see what is happening with cities – like Kyiv, for example, you should at least try to be in a bomb shelter.
I understand that leaving can be scary. Many people in Mariupol think: “Where will I go? Where are they waiting for me?” help.
Yes, of course. There will definitely be people who will help you.
Maria said that many of her relatives stayed in Mariupol because they were afraid to leave. The girl spoke to them more than once, but she failed to convince them. However, even in such terrible conditions, Maria's family, who remained in the occupied city, is waiting for the victory of Ukraine.
And in conclusion of our conversation – what will you do when Ukraine wins?
I think we will definitely go out and meet all over the country. Let's celebrate victory wherever we are. Perhaps just like that. And of course in the family circle too.
You know, I probably would go to Mariupol. Even if it was just a visit, I would immediately come to Mariupol, because I have many relatives left there.
All Ukrainians, who are looking forward to the return of their loved ones from Russian captivity, will definitely meet and embrace. We hope this will be their last separation and they can be close to each other. We believe in the victory of our heroic defenders and are doing everything in our power to hear the much-desired “We have won” as soon as possible.
