Alla (57)

Saturday, March 5, 2022, Zilina

I walked by her corner in the high-capacity center several times. Alla seemed incredibly strong to me. She is used to living alone and taking care of herself. On the contrary, she is not used to being dependent on anyone. However, she radiated great determination. She left her city, her apartment, her home, which she loved so much. Along the way, she met two other women and they now mentally support each other. It is easier to face fate as a group. Although none of them knows today what the future will bring.

"I am from the port city of Odessa in the south of Ukraine. The Russians began bombing our city on the first day of the war. There is a military warehouse in the street around the corner. Apparently they wanted to bomb a military base, but they hit a warehouse that exploded. The air defence systems were fully operational, they were shooting down missiles and drones that attacked us. I heard it all. I live far from the centre and we don't have any anti-bomb shelters there. I just sat and waited to see if or when it would stop. I don't have a family, I'm alone. I went to the train station, where the evacuation train left from. There I met two women whom I am here with now. We went to Uzhhorod together. I don't know anyone here in Slovakia. Volunteers took us across the border. I don't know what I'm going to do here, I'm retired and I have no idea if I'll be entitled to any social benefits. I worked as a lawyer at home. However, I do not know the local language or the law. However, I have a driver's license so I can work as a taxi driver or a cleaning lady. I haven't seen my husband in over 10 years. We are divorced and I don't know anything about him."

"I left behind a completely renovated 1-room apartment in Odessa. I liked it very much, it was big enough for myself. I also like the sea very much. But I'd rather stay here than return to the ruins."

"I don't know what's next. What the future will bring. However, it is clear to me that there is no future in Russia with the leadership they have. People there will simply be slaves. My family in Russia only contacted me on the first day of the war, they stopped answering my calls on the second day. They are probably scared."