Young Ukrainians Living Abroad: I Feel Guilty for Being Safe While My Family Is Hiding in the Basements

The Ukrainians living abroad are experiencing challenging days. Many are waiting for their families, intently watching the news. Some have decided to return to Ukraine, others are trying to get their loved ones out, to safety. We talked to five young Ukrainians about the war. They shared thoughts and concerns arising from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

The feeling of helplessness persists.

Vitalina from Dnepropetrovsk

When the war began, 17-year-old Vitalina Topchij could not comprehend it. "I was literally shaking," says the art student.

From day one, she helps the refugees. Especially in the early days when they had no refuge. She says that if she did not find it in her to help them now, it would have a detrimental effect on her mental health.

 

 

 

Zobrazit příspěvek na Instagramu

 

 

 

Příspěvek sdílený Vitalina (@creative_girl.66)

Read also

Young Ukrainian from Kharkiv: Woke Up to the Sound of Bombs Tonight. It's Very Scary, the City Center is Under AttackYoung Ukrainian from Kharkiv: Woke Up to the Sound of Bombs Tonight. It's Very Scary, the City Center is Under Attack

Vitalina's family managed to escape from Ukraine to Poland. Her grandparents and family friends stayed. "Sometimes we write each other, people are afraid. But they are ready to stand and fight for their children and relatives until the end," says Vitalina. She comes from the Dnepropetrovsk region, which was bombed by Russian troops within the first few days of the conflict.

Vitalina considered returning to Ukraine and helping "as best she could." She feels guilty for going, but at the same time she does not want to return to Dnepropetrovsk. "My relatives would be too worried," explains the 17-year-old art student.

Anastasija from Kiev

Anastasija is 18 years old, studying painting in Banská Bystrica. First days of the conflict were very difficult.

"It was very difficult for me to survive the first three days of the conflict. I did not want to eat because people in Ukraine could soon be without food. I didn't want to sleep because people in Ukraine didn't sleep because of the sirens piercing the silence of the night," says 18-year-old Anastasia from Kiev.

Then she realized that the war was in Ukraine, not Slovakia.

"I realized I had to do whatever I can to help, and above all, to continue living, to make it all easier for my parents," explains Anastasija.

Anastasia and her boyfriend are now helping on the border with Ukraine

 

 

 

Zobrazit příspěvek na Instagramu

 

 

 

Příspěvek sdílený Ася Ковалева (@_veterrrrok_)

She is now in constant contact with her family. They are still in Kiev and will not leave. "Only my mother could leave. But she doesn't want to leave my brother and father. At the moment, it is too dangerous to leave Kiev, and so they remain within the conflict zone," says Anastasia.

I call my loved ones every day. They do not want to leave Ukraine.

She has no plans to return. "If I had relevant experience in the military or medicine, I would return. But now that I evaluate my situation and competencies, I realize that I am too afraid to return," says the 18-year-old student. She adds that in this situation, her parents would be thinking about how to save her life.

Read also

REPORT: We Went to the Slovak-Ukrainian Border. This is What a Place That Separates War From Peace Looks LikeREPORT: We Went to the Slovak-Ukrainian Border. This is What a Place That Separates War From Peace Looks Like

Anastasija therefore remains in Slovakia and helps the refugees in Banská Bystrica.
"We are looking for accommodation and transport options for refugees. We also organized humanitarian aid” says the 18-year-old student of fine arts. She adds that as of now, none of the Ukrainians in her circles has "fortunately" been asked to enlist.

 

 

 

Zobrazit příspěvek na Instagramu

 

 

 

Příspěvek sdílený Ася Ковалева (@_veterrrrok_)

Vladyslav from Dnepropetrovsk

Pianist Vladyslav studies music in Slovakia. The invasion surprised him and he considers it a world catastrophe.

"I call my loved ones every day and they do not want to leave Ukraine. They will stay at home," he says." He has considered whether he will return to Ukraine many times. "I'm not a trained soldier, it's better if I'm here," he explains. They haven't asked him to enlist yet. . 

My parents can’t leave Ukraine because they are soldiers. If they fled, they would be considered traitors.

Vladyslav is now helping people at the border. "I try my best to help people who come to Slovakia. For example, tonight I'm going to the border, bringing things for refugees. This usually applies to children, because they most often miss necessary things," says the 26-year-old musician. He adds that he is taking a woman with two children from the border.

Viktoria from Ivano-Frankivsk 

The first days of the conflict were very difficult for 20-year-old Viktoria. She is now in the process of accepting that the conflict is happening.

"I read that I should slowly start preparing for the worst, so that it will be easier for me to come to terms with, if it happens. So I'm working on it. But I hope I will never have to use it," says the architecture student. She feels guilty for being safe while her parents and friends are at risk. But she is trying to work on these feelings as well.

“My parents can’t leave Ukraine because they are soldiers. If they fled, they would be considered traitors” explains Viktoria. They managed to get her 12-year-old sister to Slovakia.

She was considering joining the army but now, she does not want to leave.

"As long as the situation allows, I will stay in Slovakia with my sister. I have to take care of her now" says the 20-year-old student.

 “Every day, I wake up feeling guilty that my family and friends are hiding in the basements and I'm safe”

 

"Besides, they wouldn't let me enlist into the military now. They didn't even take my cousin, because he was never in the army and has no experience, " she adds.

 

 

 

Zobrazit příspěvek na Instagramu

 

 

 

Příspěvek sdílený wika (@uvoop)

Viktoria is currently helping Ukrainians in Slovakia. Several refugees lived with her.

"Now they have gone further into Europe and made place for my sister," says Victoria. She adds, that she continues to provide financial support and is trying to share official information and ways of finding support to Ukrainians.

Antosha from Kropyvnytskyi

Anton has been at home constantly, since the invasion. He says he has no will or energy to do anything. "I wake up and fall asleep with a cell phone in my hand. Every morning I write to the family if they are okay. Then I reach out to my friend sand only then does the day begin for me," says Anton, also called by nickname Antosha.

He works at PWC. The company was very supportive since the war started, allowing him to take a vacation. "It was simply impossible to work," explains Antosha.
He woke up every day feeling guilty that his family and friends were hiding in the basements while he was safe.

"I asked my family whether they would come here. At least for a moment, to let me know they are alive, that they are with me. Unfortunately, that is not possible," says Anton. Since his brother is 19 years old, he is not able to leave Ukraine.

"My mother would never leave without him, so they stay home. I try to support them – financially as well, but that is the last thing they care about now," explains Anton. He adds that he is trying to be useful and is involved in helping Ukraine.

He is genuinely surprised how many people from his circles contacted him and offered to help. However, he is concerned and angered by the reactions of some political parties. “It hurts a lot to see some of the hateful reactions of politicians. It's disgusting.” He refers to the lack of support offered to Ukraine and Ukrainians and a trivialization of the Russian invasion.
  

 

 

 

Zobrazit příspěvek na Instagramu

 

 

 

Příspěvek sdílený Antoša 🌱 (@kuts_antosha)