Angela Markova
Ukraine, Kyiv, Motyzhyn (Bucha region)
Israel, Petah Tikva
“When the war broke out, I mostly remember the overwhelming feeling of panic that surrounded everyone. At first, we didn’t know what to do, but since Kyiv was constantly being bombarded, we decided to leave and move to our village house in the Bucha area, about twenty kilometers from Kyiv.
I remember the fear I felt, when I saw convoys of Russian tanks and soldiers passing by our house.
I carefully recorded them with my cell phone, hoping they wouldn’t see me or harm my family. Unfortunately, my fears were justified. When the Russians left Bucha, the world witnessed the terrible atrocities they committed. In this life, I believe you can forgive many things, but the murder of innocent people is simply unforgivable to me.
After the massacre in Bucha, we knew we had to leave for a safer place. My 81-year-old father, my daughter Yana, and I, managed to get to Israel, but unfortunately my husband stayed behind, because, at 53, he is still eligible for recruitment in Ukraine. We try to talk on the phone almost every day, but I still miss him deeply here in Israel.
I am Jewish and have a deep love for Israel, but living here presents its own challenges. We are not ordinary ‘immigrants’ who simply boarded a plane and arrived; our journey has been far more complicated. We fled from a war and came here as refugees, so this is not a normal process of ‘Aliyah,’. There is a lot of complexity that I wish people in Israel understood better. On the other hand, we have met many kind people in Israel who helped us during our difficult moments, and did not let us fall, which is very comforting. I truly hope that the wars in Ukraine and Israel will end as soon as possible.”