Zoreslava left Kyiv in the first days of the war/Collage 24
Zoreslava left Kyiv in the early days of the full-scale invasion. Then the events in the capital resembled fantasy rather than reality. Russian tanks in the capital – how could we believe that this was ever possible? In the early days, we did not know how strong our resistance would be, how shameful the atrocities of the Russians would be. We didn’t know how proud we would be of our Armed Forces and that fantasy “capture Kyiv in three days” is fantasy.
- 1Zoreslava left Kyiv in the first days of the war: watch the video
- 25 am February 24: the beginning of the war
- 3In the first days, she was numb with fear: she could neither eat nor drink
- 4Departure from Kyiv to Lvov
- 5Pictures from The Buci made it clear that everything can be expected from Russia
- 6Ready to defend Europe, the whole world, but we need help: Zoreslava on the victory of Ukraine
We spoke with Zoreslava in one of the Lviv shelters. We stopped several times because tears prevented us from talking further. They exhaled and spoke again: about Bucha, Irpen, Vorzel. It was in the Kyiv region that the Russians exposed their real face – rapists, marauders, but definitely not the military.
OWN. Stories of those who left to return.
Zoreslava left Kyiv in the first days of the war: watch the video
February 24, 5 am: the beginning of the war
The war began for Zoreslava, like most Ukrainians, to the sound of explosions. At first, she and the guy did not immediately understand what it was. They thought it was the cat being naughty.
At 5 am we woke up from the explosions. We have a cat at home, we thought that he was being mischievous, because it was his usual thing to wake up at such a time, wake him up and ask to go into the room. But when we let the cat in, we realized that the sounds did not stop. Watched with a guy. And at that moment the phone rang. I have two older brothers, they are in Boryspil – they were among the first to be informed about the war, at half past four in the morning they called back and said that the war had begun, – recalled Zoreslav.
In the capital, the girl remained to the last, trying to master her fear. However, the parents were very worried and asked to leave the capital. A week later, according to Zoreslava, the city gradually began to return to life, at least the infrastructure began to work. However, the fear did not disappear anywhere, it only intensified with each siren and the echo of explosions.
couldn't drink
As long as sirens and explosions are not heard nearby, then, in principle, it seems that normal life is going on. After a few days, people began to recover from horror. For in the first days, you become numb with fear and do not understand what to do. The body needs some basic needs – to eat, drink, but you can't do that, – says Zoreslava.
Each of us has a different threshold of fear, we react differently to traumatic events, but they one way or another cause us a lot of pain. It will take us a long time to recover from this horror and try to return to life. At the same time, none of us knows how long this war will last, and therefore we cannot allow stress to destroy us.
To mourn grief, sympathize, volunteer and be safe – this is how Zoreslava decided to act. The next step was evacuation from Kyiv to safer western regions.
< /p> Zoreslava does not hold back her tears when she talks about the war in Kyiv/Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24
Departure from Kyiv to Lviv
“I live on the Left Bank in Kyiv, so the first stage is leave from the Left Bank to the Right. In our part of the metro, it was no longer functioning, since it was in open areas, and it was immediately closed. Therefore, we traveled through acquaintances by hitchhiking,” recalled Zoreslava.
For several days, the girl had to live on the Right Bank in order to find out how the railway message goes. On one of those days, the Russians fired on the Right Bank – the explosions occurred just at the station. Therefore, the girl waited a few more days for the situation to settle down. I was afraid to leave – it was not safe.
A few days later I went to Lvov. It was around March 10-11. By that time, the trains were not as busy as in the early days, it was possible to ride sitting and even have a place to sit, and not stand in the vestibule of the car. Already on the way, I wrote to the girls from the shelter if there was a place or if they would accept me. Since March 12, I have been living here, in a shelter for temporary migrants, – said Zoreslava.
The girl works remotely, she only needs a laptop for work. She says that on days when the news is really bad, she is not up to work, of course, she updates the news feed every second. In addition to work, she volunteers, as it was before the full-scale invasion, and now this niche has become a lifesaver for Zoreslava.
The footage from Bucha made it clear that everything can be expected from Russia
We recorded our conversation with Zoreslava in April, when she postponed her return to Kyiv. It was difficult for the girl to talk about her beloved city, mutilated by Russians.
My boyfriend and I discussed my return to Kyiv, and then footage about Bucha, Vorzel was revealed. We realized that anything can be expected from Russia. We decided that it was dangerous to return to Kyiv, it was better to wait in safety. What Russians do with women and children is unacceptable. – said Zoreslava.
We tried to reassure the girl, because the Russians left the Kiev region for April. The area was liberated from the invaders. But Zoreslav was again seized with fear. Her eyes filled with tears again.
“I don't believe it. They've been fired, but that doesn't change the fact that there are sabotage groups, airstrikes are repeated. I can't say that it's safe to return to the city,” – with sadness recognized the girl.
The girl was afraid to return to Kyiv and did not feel safe/Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24
Bucha, Gostomel, Irpin became the point of no return in this war. The cruelty with which Russian soldiers entered the Kiev region was a shock to the world, and for Ukrainians it was a tart pain that has not disappeared for the third month of the war and is unlikely to ever disappear.
We will never forgive the Russians for the lives they have taken. Despite all the evidence of atrocities, Russia continues to call the war they started a “special operation”, which aims to “demilitarize and denazify”.
In the Kyiv region, the Russians shot people right in the middle of the street – this is the genocide of the Ukrainian people/Photo by AP and other media
24 channel expresses condolences to the families of the victims. Russian atrocities are unacceptable. This is the pain of the entire Ukrainian people. We must spread the truth about this shameful war in order for Russia to answer for the genocide of Ukrainians.
Ready to defend Europe, the whole world , but we need help: Zoreslava on Ukraine's victory
After the end of the war, we will rebuild the country, we will try to restore souls as well. Pain is with us forever, but the Ukrainian nation has incredible strength and invincibility. Never before have we been the only ones in their goal, the enemy wanted to destroy us as a nation, but strengthened our self-consciousness.
We are scared, but we will stand. This is not the first time for Ukraine, so we will stand. We are ready to defend Europe, the whole world, but we need their help and support,” Zoreslava said.
With the words about returning home, to Kyiv, the girl smiles warmly. He says he does not even doubt the victory of the Ukrainian people. Banal things that he does not allow himself now, upon his return he promises to put into practice. For the happiness of living every day.
Every evening now I fall asleep with the opinion that there will definitely be a victory. I will return, I will cry with happiness for several hours. I'll put myself in order, I'll get a haircut – I want to relieve all this pain. I will sort things out – I will give clothes, shoes to needy people. I will work, volunteer, rebuild the country together with everyone,” Zoreslava added.
We will definitely rebuild it! Life will conquer darkness. We will do everything to bring to justice the perpetrators of the genocide of the Ukrainian people.
After talking with Zoreslava, we talked for a long time about the perception of fear and the reaction of the psyche to war. About how each of us “lives” it. About pain and hate, life and instincts. The war has been killing each of us in different ways for the third month already, but our nation will live, for sure!
