Spring in Flames: Stories of Kyiv Region Residents About the Russian Invasion of 2022

The spring of 2022 became a time of harrowing trials for the residents of Kyiv region. The world was shocked by the brutality of russian forces, revealed after the region was liberated from occupation. Yet despite the horrors, the people stood strong, fiercely resisting the enemy and showing remarkable resilience during the darkest days. Thanks to their heroism, the invaders' goal of "Kyiv in three days" became an impossible dream, thwarted by the courage of Ukrainians.

This collection by the Museum of Civilian Voices by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation gathers the testimonies of those who lived through these events. Each story serves as a lasting memory of individuals who achieved the impossible. Every account is a valuable part of the great chronicle of the Ukrainian people's fight for their future.

“There were the scariest three days, when we didn’t even drink water. We moistened our lips and that’s it”
04.07.2023
Iryna Romanchenko
“There were the scariest three days, when we didn’t even drink water. We moistened our lips and that’s it”
Evgenia Gapchynska: “My legs buckled, and I howled like an animal…”
06.08.2022
Evgenia Gapchynska
Evgenia Gapchynska: “My legs buckled, and I howled like an animal…”
Airstrike killed my children. The five-storey building, the entire entrance collapsed
22.01.2024
Tetyana Bukina
"Airstrike killed my children. The five-storey building, the entire entrance collapsed"
The rooster from Borodianka is a sign that victory will be ours!
14.08.2022
Nadiya Dmytrivna Svatko
"The rooster from Borodianka is a sign that victory will be ours!"
War diary from Bucha “The Chronicle of Three Windows”
07.10.2022
Oleksiy Tarasevich
War diary from Bucha “The Chronicle of Three Windows”
He called me and cried. His crew was one of the first to enter Bucha
27.02.2024
Maryna Bagulova
"He called me and cried. His crew was one of the first to enter Bucha"
We received children from Irpin, Bucha; many of them had mine-blast injuries
27.07.2024
Olena Primak
"We received children from Irpin, Bucha; many of them had mine-blast injuries"
Yehor Andriushyn - from the son of a shoe-man to a celebrity makeup artist: Here I am in Bucha, standing on the ruins of mine and my parents life
03.09.2024
Ehor Andryushyn
Yehor Andriushyn - from the son of a shoe-man to a celebrity makeup artist: "Here I am in Bucha, standing on the ruins of mine and my parents' life"
When we were leaving Bucha, there were corpses piled up all around
06.10.2024
Bisova Margarita
"When we were leaving Bucha, there were corpses piled up all around"
“In Bucha, Yablunska Street was covered with corpses. I still don’t understand how we survived”
20.06.2024
Angelina Bartosz
“In Bucha, Yablunska Street was covered with corpses. I still don’t understand how we survived”
“We heard shots fired in the woods... As it turned out, residents of Hostomel were killed there”
20.08.2023
Tetyana Opanasenko
“We heard shots fired in the woods... As it turned out, residents of Hostomel were killed there”
“They are brainwashed: “if we had not attacked you, you would have attacked us and killed our children”
05.01.2023
Lyudmila Veselko
“They are brainwashed: “if we had not attacked you, you would have attacked us and killed our children”
I was walking with a white flag, and everywhere around were the consequences of the battle. It took me a week to get home
09.07.2024
Alyona Verlan
"I was walking with a white flag, and everywhere around were the consequences of the battle. It took me a week to get home"
After the bombing, I saw houses burning. I heard people screaming
05.06.2023
Oleksandr Venher
"After the bombing, I saw houses burning. I heard people screaming"
“Each trip was like the last journey”
28.10.2022
Hanna and Leila Aliyeva
“Each trip was like the last journey”
History of the “Ukrainian Madonna.” “My daughter had blood all over her clothes. She started screaming...”
20.06.2022
Olga Garbuz and Dmitry Bugayov
History of the “Ukrainian Madonna.” “My daughter had blood all over her clothes. She started screaming...”
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