Ekaterina (70)

May 31, 2022, Bratislava. Day 96 of war.

I have wondered countless times which generation suffers from war the most. There is only one answer - which is - there is no answer to such a question. The war is affecting children whose future is uncertain and they will have to deal with trauma all their lives, young people who lost their innocence, adults who bear the responsibility for their families and who have a long way to go rebuilding their homes and the whole country, and finally pensioners, who, instead of finally resting, must seek refuge abroad, or listen to the sounds of rockets flying over their heads and see their children die. War is evil and affects us all. Despite all this, Ekaterina tries to keep her optimism and the belief that she will soon be able to return home. 

“The worst thing is that mainly young people are leaving. Very often to Poland, where they go to pick strawberries. They leave their children in the care of their parents. The older generation suffers, as do the children. Older people no longer have the strength to raise the children, and the kids, well they are children. War is the worst way to destroy people. Fortunately, we do not have a nuclear war yet, but even so, entire cities are destroyed, burned. Don't let God make it worse. We have something to remember, both good and bad. We live in very difficult and hopeless times.” 

“I'm lucky to be here. I was preparing for it (the war), but I wasn't ready for that at all. I wrote down everything I shall take with me, like my medication so that it lasts at least a year. When the moment of departure came, I left everything behind and took only a backpack really quickly, which is slightly larger than yours. Volunteers help us here, they are the light at the end of the tunnel for us. When we need something, all you have to do is write it down, and they will bring it to you right away. There are a lot of kids here which go to school here. I was pleasantly surprised by the youth who came here. They gave chocolates to the elders. It is usually the case that grandmothers and grandfathers give sweets to their grandchildren. Here, for the first time in my life, I received chocolate from the younger ones. I'm uncomfortable getting things from younger people. In the end, I passed on what I received to humanitarian aid.” 

“We often talk about what it would be like if we had to accept Slovaks. I told an acquaintance that I would give her my address, so she can come to Slovjansk. We have salt lakes there where I will treat them.” 

“When they ask me what it was like when I left, I try to talk about good things, everyone already knows about the bad things. I had electricity and gas, it was possible to live almost normally, but prices rose incredibly. However, life in our country is still cheap compared to prices here. I tell everyone - come to live with us, you will be rich. I see that apartments are also expensive here. Apartments in Ukraine are expensive in the capital and in larger cities, here they are expensive everywhere. Life used to be better, we were getting help from the state, we got an apartment, even though we had to wait a long time for it. Both parents and children had flats. Today, if grandchildren have something to inherit, that's fine. But if not? How do they buy an apartment? They have to live in sublets. For me, there is no worse idea than constantly moving. One morning the owner comes and tells you to go away. And you have to look again and pay to strangers.” 

“We had a beautiful life in the Kharkiv region. There are people who like singing. I remember those evenings in that beautiful nature when people pulled out an accordion and started singing. I remember all this. Unfortunately, our children no longer know it. I advised my grandson to learn to play the guitar, I said I would contribute so he could buy it. Today he goes out with his friends to play, to sing. I like it when people sing. I am a social lady, even though I live alone.” 

“We live in strange times. What are we guilty of? Are we guilty for living in the Donetsk region? We will manage somehow, we will fight our way through! I definitely want to go home. There is beautiful nature, good people there. We got used to those who are not the best already, and we have "liked" them.”