This content was published: April 24, 2023. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
February 24, 2022
Written by: Віра Надієнко – Vira Nadiyenko
February 24 changed our lives forever. I will never forget this day. It divided my life into two parts – before and after the start of the war. Early in the morning, the Russians began bombing Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. I woke up with a call from my husband. He told me about the start of the war. I didn’t understand him. But when I looked out the window, I saw many cars on the way. It was unusual. People left Kyiv. We heard alarms and looked for a place to hide. Some people were hiding in basements, underground tunnels, – in the subways. We hoped that this would not last long, because Ukraine would quickly win. Sometimes I thought it was a nightmare. The war changed my life and attitude toward many things. First, the war showed who our true friends are. Second, the war taught me to appreciate what you have. Third, the war forced me to do things that I did not do in civilian life: I helped other people, got help from other people, and moved to other places. Due to the war, I had to change my place of residence and lose my job. Thus, the war destroyed my usual life and changed my attitude toward life. I can’t forget February 24. But I hope that we will soon know another date – the day the war ends, the day of Ukraine’s victory.