This interview was taken via WhatsApp Video Chat on September 30, 2023.
Maryna provided all answers verbally and was live translated by my friend and colleague Dmytro Nykyforov, operator of War Tours Ukraine, linked here.
Slight variations exist between interviews and the questions asked. This is due to the different levels of English fluency among interviewees, to provide them as much clarity as possible.
#1. What was Ukraine like growing up?
Your favorite memory from childhood? Now she is surprised that she used to be happy but she did not know it before the war. She had many family and friends.
Now they are in a new region and it is difficult, but before she really had everything.
#2. Where were you when Russia invaded in 2022?
She was in her house in Bakhmut with her children.
#3. How did she find out?
Bakhmut was not that far from the front lines so there were many Ukrainian soldiers, so it wasn`t really a sign that the war started. On February 23rd, they heard that Putin told that the war may start. They [wanted to wait] for Zelensky`s response, but they went and started to buy food.
They found out when Russians started shelling the city.
#4. Did you have to leave Ukraine at any point? What was your journey like? How long did it take? Bus or train?
[The] first two weeks they stayed [in Bakhmut] and she waited for her husband. He couldn’t arrive quickly because he was stuck in Kyiv. They stayed for one week together in Bakhmut after he arrived before moving. They then moved to [the] Chernobyl region for 1 year and then they moved to the Kyiv region.
#5. Are you married and/or have any children?
Yes she is married, and when they left [their child was] 3.5 years old.
#6. Was it difficult to leave with a little child?
Yes, it was difficult and was the main reason to leave the city. They also have relatives in the Kyiv region. In the first weeks it was safer than in the Kyiv region
#7. What did you think your life would be like now, 2 years ago?
Before the war they planned to open a mini farm and they were going to produce cheese. They [also] had a village nearby where they were going to start their farm and conduct exhibitions with animals and to produce cheese.
#8. How do you see your life going forward from here?
They didn’t change their plans and they still want to produce cheese but it is harder because in the Kyiv region they do not have their own apartment like they did in Bakhmut. It is hard and they tried to participate in grant programs and start the farm with the extra money.
#9. How do you feel about other countries` support of Ukraine? Do they do enough?
She feels like their own state does not support Ukrainians enough and they feel more support from other countries.
#10. How long do you think the war will last?
It is hard to answer because it depends on how many resources the country has and how many men they will have to continue.
#11. What do you want people from outside Ukraine to know about life here now?
Ask other people not to be tired because of our long war. There are a lot of children growing up without families and without help.
Russia has many resources that Ukraine does not have and that they need the continued support.
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