The story of Elena Kubik, a migrant from Nikolaev/Collage of 24 channels
On the day of the full-scale invasion of Russia, Elena Kubik with her daughter Elizabeth was in her native Nikolaev, her husband was on a business trip abroad. In the first days of the war, the scheme was in effect: an air raid – in the basement. At first, the woman did not want to be evacuated, but her daughter's safety took precedence. On March 8 they left the house. Kolomyia, Lviv, and then Chortkiv – cities that gave shelter and brought together wonderful people.
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- 1The first strong explosions and panic: the war began
- 2Leaving the house and the cat with kittens: evacuation from Nikolaev
- 3The road to a safe place through all
- 4New people, emotions and life in the Ternopil region
- 5The house in Mykolaiv holds up, but values have completely changed
- 6Warm welcome of people and rest of the soul in the village
- 7Transformation of pro-Russian Nikolaev
- 8Plans to return home and first actions after the victory
OWN. Stories of those who left to return
As part of the SVOI project, Channel 24 tells the story of Elena and her daughter. Because of the war, they had to flee their home and look for a new one.
This winter morning began too early and not with the sun's rays in the window, not with a cup of fragrant coffee, not with the smile of the closest ones. That February morning began in all corners of Ukraine with explosions, fear, misunderstanding, pain and the word “war”. shell the Kulbakinsky airport and the port “Ochakov”.
One of the high-rise buildings in Nikolaev, the same time. The family of Elena Kubik woke up from unusual sounds – something is happening. Then thoughts were confused, but among them there was not even a guess that they would have to leave their home and leave. Overcome long distances, stop, go again. And then, 600 kilometers from home, find a new one. And there, in the distant Chortkiv, Ternopil region, breathe deeply, try something completely new for yourself and find loved ones among those who were a stranger a moment ago.
Elena Kubik was born in Nikolaev. There she lived with her husband Vyacheslav and 8-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Prior to the start of a full-scale war, for 15 years she was a practical psychologist in the children's school-kindergarten “Seagull”. She and her sister also had a child development center “Mom's Sun”. I constantly worked with children.
Elena with her daughter and husband/Photo from Elena Kubik's archive
The first strong explosions and panic: the war began
How did February 24 start for you? What were the first thoughts and feelings when they realized that a full-scale war had begun?
On the night of February 24, we heard an explosion – it flew to Nikolaev, to the Kulbakinsky airfield. It was very scary. My husband told me that something would start soon, urged me to prepare a suitcase. He is abroad, from the Zarya plant – “Mashproekt” works on the ship. At the start of the war, he was on a business trip.
Elena's husband went on a business trip on September 23, 2021/Archive photo Elena Kubik
Despite all his warnings, I did not think until the last that this would happen. But when we heard a strong explosion, I realized what had begun. Then I called my husband. He first said that perhaps these were teachings. And a few minutes later he added: “No, the war has begun.”
We then had a panic state. But we continued to do everything as usual. In the morning we were going to school, to work.
Then we constantly had anxiety, every day. We live on the 9th floor. We went down to the basement several times a day. Together with the head of condominiums, they put things in order there. Therefore, it was convenient to be in the shelter.
Leaving the house and the cat with kittens: evacuation from Nikolaev
When did you decide to leave Nikolaev and what influenced your decision?
We had shelling all the time. I talked to my husband every day. He was very worried. He did not put pressure on me, but often said: “maybe you will leave.” I answered: “No, I can't, I won't leave our house.” Besides, I have a cat, and she has four kittens that have just been born, very tiny.
The cat and kittens stayed in Nikolaev/Photo from Elena Kubik's archive
We were talking like that. And then he convinced me, saying that I should think about the child, about myself. Then I took heart. This was after the tanks arrived at the store near us. Something happened, it was so close. We didn't see it, but we heard it. It was terrible. Then I realized that I still had to go. Our bridges were constantly either blocked, or closed, or mined. My husband organized a trip for us – and we set off.
How did the daughters explain what was happening, why it was necessary to either hide or leave the house altogether?
She told her everything as it is. She is already a grown girl. Tried to calm her down. But somehow everything worked out automatically for us: when there was an air raid, we immediately took the cats into a carrier, a few backpacks and went down to the basement. The elevators didn't work. So we used to run up and down all day long.
The daughter was not very worried. Because her girlfriends were in the basement. She met everyone there. The children behaved as always, and the parents, of course, worried. I told her everything as it is. That we are at war, the enemy attacked us, we will have to go to a safe place. She was worried about her beloved cat, which we eventually left with my parents.
The road to a safe place through all areas
What was your evacuation, how long did you drive, where did you stay? Who helped get out of Nikolaev?
We first moved across the Varvarovsky bridge (a drawbridge across the Southern Bug River, connecting the historical district of Nikolaev Varvarovka and the rest of the city – Channel 24). There, outside the city, my dad lives. We spent the night with him. In the morning a friend of my husband arrived who lives in Odessa. He took us to him. We spent the next night there. And then we went with him to Uman.
A woman with her daughter left Nikolaev on March 8/Photo from Elena's archive Cube
Our further journey was organized by my husband's brother. He agreed with his employees that in each region someone would give us a lift. Therefore, we constantly changed from one car to another. First there was Uman, then – Vinnitsa, Ivano-Frankivsk. From there, my husband's brother Andrei took us to Kolomyia. There we lived in a shelter.
At first the family stopped in Kolomna/Photo from Elena Kubik's archive
After that we left for Lvov. There were few options where to stay – so that there were conditions and the price was adequate. In addition, we have two children. As a result, we spent 1.5 months in Lviv. Andrey worked, we were at home.
For a month and a half, Elena and her daughter lived in Lviv/photo from the archive of Elena Kubik
Elizaveta in Lvov: watch the video
How did you end up in Chortkiv?
Then my sister came from Nikolaev. She has a son, a boy, Alexei, who is 9 years old. They left the city late. I convinced her to do it for a long time. My sister and son ended up in Buchach. We were still in Lvov then. And they thought how to do this in order to be together.
Then my sister found refuge in Chortkiv. Good conditions, the opportunity to settle two families. We knew we were going there. So on May 8 we ended up in the city of Ternopil region. -bezhat-elena-o-vyezde-iz-nikolaeva-i-zhizni-v-chortkove-18e5143.jpg” alt=”When tanks arrived nearby, we decided to run away, – Elena about leaving Nikolaev and life in Chortkovo” />
On the way to Chortkiv/Photo from Elena Kubik's archive
New people, emotions and life in Ternopil region
How were you received in your new place? What did you do?
When we first moved in, my sister Oksana met with representatives of the Caritas charity center. We went there several times to receive humanitarian aid. They wrote down our phone numbers to let us know when there will be some classes or meetings for the children. Then we began to be invited to various events. We rode horses for free, and held master classes in a pizzeria, there were English classes, and volleyball – a lot of everything.
And in general, here, in Chortkiv, my sister and I did not sit idly by. She began to draw patriotic bags, I made patriotic brooches with beads. We are creative people, there was inspiration and a great desire to do something.
Patriotic brooch/Photo from Elena Kubik's archive< /p>
I saw how young people work there. I also wanted to work. I asked if there were any vacancies. Then it wasn't. And then she appeared, and I was invited. And so my first week at work passed.
Tell us more about your new job. Do you work with children?
I work as a practical psychologist. Children of immigrants come to me. I do consultations and games. Now only in individual form. I took the course “Children and War”, received a certificate.
By the way, when we were training, it was an exercise – to imagine a safe place where you feel comfortable, good. And only Chortkov came to my mind, the church we now go to. This helps a lot, because without prayer and God, there would be nothing.
The house in Nikolaev is holding on, but values have completely changed
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Has your home or the homes of your family and friends been damaged by shelling?
Fortunately, everything is fine. There were shelling nearby, but it did not reach our houses. Thanks to God, my relatives were not hurt either. As for distant acquaintances, there are many of those whose housing is either damaged or completely destroyed.
Almost everyone has left my house. Only the head of condominiums with his wife remained. We gave them pussy. They are so happy. They say it's their sun. They remained to guard the house. They water the flowers, look after the yard.
How did the war affect you? Maybe there are things that began to be perceived differently?
A lot has changed. We realized that not so much a person needs for life, for happiness. You don't need things at all. I began to value time. I spend more time with my child. Before the war, I worked hard. Now I understand that I did not have time to live. I ask myself: “Why did we work like this?” Home – work – home – work – everything was constantly repeated. Man abroad. Thanks to his business trips, they raised money and bought an apartment. Because of this constant work, there was not enough time to communicate with friends and relatives. Ordinariness sucked in and you didn’t really live.
Now I realized that I had a good rest. First in Lvov, now in Chortkiv. I gained strength and now I want to work so much that I can't.
We at “Caritas” went and helped a little. For example, they prepared food for the soldiers. So I wanted to put my energy somewhere.
Caritas pizza making workshop for IDP children: watch the video
Warm welcome of people and rest of the soul in the village
Do you think your “second” house has become a real home for you now? And the people nearby, who seemed to be completely strangers, became family?
When we arrived here, I was doing something in the house, and my sister went with the children to play in the playground. She met someone there. And then I see that neighbors are starting to come to us and they are bringing potatoes, a variety of food. We were shocked then, we didn't understand what was going on. And people tell us: “you will plant this potato, and you will eat this one.” We are so grateful to them, because we did not expect such a reaction.
I lived in Nikolaev on the 9th floor. And here we have a house. We planted potatoes, we have a huge vegetable garden. We are worried about him. We grow vegetables and fruits. We're just happy that we've grown something. We had gardens when we were kids. But I've gotten used to all that. Now I realized that I can do it, that I like it. Grounding has occurred.
Harvest of cucumbers by Elena and her sister/Photo from the archive of Elena Kubik
In Chortkiv, the soul rests, you go out into the street – and immediately a good mood. There is incredible nature here. When it gets sad, I always say to myself: “Go outside.” Then I go out and everything changes.
I met a great team that I work with. New connections and attitude of people are very good. Although there are different situations.
We sometimes read that people from the East or the South, who have found refuge in the West, communicate in Russian and fundamentally do not want to switch to Ukrainian. Various squabbles arise between locals and settlers.
Before the war, we were Russian speakers. Of course, it's hard to rebuild, but I really want to. I understand that now I can’t speak Russian, write messages, think. My child and my husband now speak Ukrainian in everyday life. I want to do it and I do it. The child also listens. She, of course, succeeds more difficultly, but she tries.
Elena with her family in the Ternopil region: Photo from the archive of Elena Kubik
Transformation of pro-Russian Nikolaev
What were the moods in Nikolaev before the start of the full-scale invasion, how many pro-Russian people were there? Has the situation changed now?
Our Nikolaev is very Russian-speaking. After the outbreak of the war, many people, including those we know, did not change their position. They are still waiting for Putin. We even have relatives who watch propaganda television, where Russia arranges a mass psychosis for them. We completely stopped communicating with them.
My husband volunteered to fight in 2014. He was injured and disabled. And now he really wants to go to war again. He returns to Ukraine on September 23. And I am aware that I can not keep it. We talk about it all the time, because I have already set myself up that it will be so. I understand that some people are just hiding, others don't want to, some are afraid. But the man said that he would go to war because he could not do otherwise.
Let's take even our friends from the circle of contacts of a man. Before there were not very many who wanted to and went to the front, they understood something. Our whole apartment is hung with flags, there is a lot of patriotic literature. He turned me to it. For me it was as painful as it was for him.
As for the city, now the situation has changed. People have become more patriotic. Whoever can, so joins the war. Someone volunteers, others went to the front.
But in general, I see that people are very different – some left, others remain in the city. There are those who are not going to return home. For example, they settled abroad and want to stay there and build their lives.
Already in the Ternopil region, a woman sheltered a cat with kittens/Photo from the archive of Elena Kubik
Plans to return home and first steps after victory
What about you, do you plan to return to Nikolaev?
We hope to return and rebuild our city. We really miss. I will go home at the end of September, but I don’t know how much – with all my things and forever, or just for a week. After all, I don’t want the child to see and hear everything that is happening in Nikolaev now.
Chortkiv is very calm and comfortable. The return now will be a great stress for the child.
I hope that when Kherson is released, it will be easier and it will be possible to return. Now I worry about Kherson, because it is located nearby. While there is no certainty and unambiguity, I can’t say for sure that then and then I will return to Nikolaev.
Now many, despite the risk to their lives, remain in dangerous places. What can you say to those who are afraid to leave their parents' houses and evacuate?
I would advise people to take care of their lives, their children, grandchildren and leave. So the kids don't see it. And it should also be understood that by leaving dangerous places we are helping our army. I have a lot of guys I know who constantly call: “people, leave Nikolaev, Kherson, because it will be easier for us to defend our lands.” Because our military is worried, they understand that there are civilians left in the cities and villages, therefore they cannot fire at the positions of the Russians and liberate the settlements very quickly.
So that people do not worry that they leave everything at home. I understand them because I also left my home. I worry. But at the same time, I understand that you can’t take everything with you. Therefore, when deciding to evacuate, you need to think about the future, about children.
We all have no doubt that Ukraine will be able to drive the enemy from its land. What is the first thing you will do after winning?
I believe that when I return home, there will already be a victory. I would like to meet all my relatives, hug them tightly, spend time together. I also want to work, go to work. And also rebuild our city, help in any way I can.
Elena on the day of buying an apartment in Nikolaev/Photo from Elena Kubik's archive
Not a day goes by in Nikolaev without air alert. The news is often full of information about the shelling of the city and the region. But Nikolaev, like every corner of Ukraine, is waiting for victory. He misses the people who left their homes, hiding from Russian attacks. He is waiting for everyone. So that one day again there will be such a morning as it used to be – without sirens, “arrivals” and losses, but with smiles, with gatherings of children in kindergartens and schools, favorite work, development, plans and a peaceful sky above your head!< /p>
