Masha (33), Alicia (8), Valerija (5 months)

Wednesday, 2 March 2022, Bratislava

Masha was the very first refugee I have met when I started this project. She was also one of the first people to leave her homeland. Mothers have a sixth sense developed very well and she felt that something bad was about to happen. She knew she had to leave Ukraine to make sure her daughters are safe. I must admit I admire her and all the mothers I have met during this project. They are incredibly strong women, ready to move the mountains for their families and their children. This is what she told me when we met:

"My name is Masha, I am from Kiev, Ukraine. I have two daughters with me. We came to Slovakia because of the war in Ukraine, we crossed the border in Hungary and then transited to Slovakia. I decided to leave my country couple of days before the war started, because I felt in danger. I did it for the safety of my children. I told my family that I will go to the Carpathian mountains. I made that decision in a split second. I packed clothes for my children, some medicine, diapers, put it all in one bag and left. I used to work in a pharmacy, so I knew what we may need on our journey. But I forgot to pack socks for myself. Then one day I have received a message from a friend saying the war has started. My daughter Alicia didn't sleep for three nights. She was simply afraid to sleep. She asked me to go someplace safe. Then I decided to cross the borders. I wrote to my friends in Slovakia asking for help. We met during a hiking trip in Crimea 12 years ago. That's how I came here."

"I want to go home. We are not tourists, we are homeless, my home is in Kiev and I hope to go back soon. There I still have my mother who stayed behind, taking care of our pets. My husband is fighting against the Russian occupants. I am worried about him as he has only the gun but no safety equipment like a helmet or a bulletproof vest."

"I hope that the Russian nation will wake up and see the truth. That their president is evil. It's also their chance to change things and live like normal people do, with uncensored information, in democracy. I think it will be good for Russians. I have a cousin in Russia, she is maybe 70 years old and she doesn't believe what I say when I call her. She trusts the local news, it's very difficult for her to understand what's going on. I told her, that Russian news are not showing the truth, but she wouldn't believe me."