The Kazniienko family experienced the impact of the war in the city of Sumy. On the morning of February 24th, they heard shelling in the city, and with the presence of tanks and military troops in the region, Kateryna and her husband decided to take their two sons to a village, hoping it would be safer for the children. Unfortunately, the family found themselves in an occupied territory, faced regular shelling, harsh conditions, and the fear of not having enough food for their kids

When an opportunity arose to evacuate using a "green corridor," Kateryna and her sons chose to go to Germany for a few months. However, Kateryna, a Ukrainian language teacher, decided to return home, driven by concerns for her students who were now on the war front.