Astrakhantseva Avreliia, 15 years old

Winner of the 2024 essay contest, 3st place

Novomykolaivka Lyceum No. 1 of the Verkhnodniprovsk Town Council

Teacher who inspired to write an assay - Nataliia Viktorivna Bespalko

 

«1000 days of war. My way»

The horrific images of Dovzhenko's film Ukraine on Fire were becoming a reality in the twenty-first century. Is it really happening again? Thoughts pressed my heart, and my mind refused to accept reality.

The illusion quickly faded away, but fear and despair took over the body, chained the mind, and prevented breathing.

Confusion.

The dawn was turbulent, and the hustle and bustle and stress accompanied me and my family throughout the day. Quickly packing an emergency suitcase, searching for medicines, hygiene products, warm clothes and water - this is the description of the events of that disturbing morning.

Although, frankly speaking, I was scared and frightened not for myself, but for my mother, who was in Kyiv on a business trip at the time.

The tragic news that my compatriots and I were following added fuel to the fire. I frantically dialled my mum over and over again, but the long rings were interrupted by silence. My soul was filled with horror and panic, and my heart was pounding so desperately that I felt as if I was going to faint.

My brain painted ephemeral horrific scenes, saying: you will never see her again.

Anxiety  

The next morning brought relief to my family because the closest person in the world, my mother, got in touch. She was very upset and worried, although she tried to hide it.

The sleepless night in the shelter with dozens of other people had taken its toll, she could not speak for a long time, and her voice was getting weaker and weaker.

Sad joy

The day passed like a crazy day. The constant phone calls were starting to get annoying, but it was nice to hear that all my family and friends were alive. This was probably the only thing that dispelled my anxiety and drowned out my worries.

On the same day, it was decided that my cousin and his family would move from Donetsk region to us, where, despite all the troubles, it was more or less quiet.  

Kinship

The war with the eternal fierce enemy, who brought widespread persecution, torture, fire and death to the Ukrainian fields, lasted two weeks. My uncle [Roman] returned from abroad. He was determined, did not wait for an invitation, and voluntarily joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

‘If not us, then who will defend our country from the arrogant savage Russian Empire?’ he said. I agreed with him, because the insignificant moksha orcs tried to sow powerlessness, fear and despair in our souls, because unpunished evil always returns.

Feeling boundless anger towards the enemy, I answered my Roma with the words of Taras Shevchenko: ‘The deeds of the good will be renewed, the deeds of the evil will perish.’ Still, it was painful to let him go to a place where ruthless death was lurking at every step.

Balance

Before Muscovy's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, my uncle worked as a trucker and travelled all over Europe. Every time he returned home, his daughter and son were eagerly waiting for him.

And now they are waiting, but from the war. Short-term holidays help Roma to distract himself from the horrific events of the war and plunge into everyday life for a while.

And we - his family - do our best to support our defender, even though he does not ask for it; we open meetings, prepare food for their brigade, and send warm clothes.

Consolation

Knitting was my favourite pastime since I was a little girl, so I decided to do what I do best, which distracts me and soothes the pain.

I started knitting small toys in the shape of bright, funny animals and selling them. There were no specific prices for my little business. Anyone could pay as much as their caring, vulnerable heart wanted. With the money I earned, I bought medicines, hygiene products, disposable tableware, fast food, tea, coffee, and sweets for our indomitable desperate defenders.

Care and concern

The struggle continues. The native land is crying bloody tears.

Ukraine is a dear, sung, cherished country, imbued with painful sadness and suffering, but it is close to the tart sweet ache in the heart. We will survive despite the inhuman challenges of modern times. We will survive despite the fact that you are on fire again. WE WILL SURVIVE, WE MUST SURVIVE!

Faith, Hope, Love.