Iryna Romanchenko, an artist from Hostomel, lived through real hell. In the first days of the invasion, the artist’s house was destroyed by mines. Iryna’s husband was bedridden at that time due to the coronavirus. The couple were given shelter by neighbors. Since then, seven people were fighting for their lives hourly. There was infighting, there was not enough food, they ran out of water. The invaders seized the cottage town. They threatened to shoot at people. And later, at gun point, they led them to a mined road.

They walked to Bucha for 11 kilometers: children, Irina’s sick husband. Those who heard their story of the war were surprised: how did they even survive? Despite everything, Iryna managed to save several valuable paintings. And later, the artist created in Hostomel a poignant mural “Eyes.”