Anna and Melanie Lubchuk
Ukraine, Kovel
Israel, Bat Yam
“Kovel is located in the west of Ukraine, away from the front lines, but we still experienced frequent alarms. Russian missiles landed just seven kilometers from my home, so I understand what it’s like to live under the constant threat of attack. Additionally, being so close to the Belarusian border, we faced constant rumors of a potential Russian invasion from that direction, which kept our anxiety levels high.
It’s impossible to live like this, especially with a young child to care for. I decided it was best for us to leave Ukraine, and I arrived in Israel with my daughter, Melanie.
The reality is that we left one war only to find ourselves in another. When the war in Israel began, the sounds of my neighbor’s screams and the blaring alarms made me feel as if I were back in Ukraine. But, Despite the anxieties that come with living in Israel, I feel much safer here due to the air defense systems that can intercept the missiles.
The scariest moment I experienced during the war in Israel was when an alarm caught Melanie and me out on the street. We had nowhere to hide, and I didn’t know what to do. I hugged Melanie tightly and we lay flat on the ground, hoping that the missiles wouldn’t hit us. It is not easy to escape from one war and end up in another.
I’ve been here for over two years and have observed many contrasts in Israel. On one hand, Israelis may not always be the politest people, but on the other hand, if I were to fall in the street, people would immediately come to my aid. There’s a strong sense of mutual responsibility for one another here that I haven’t found in many other places around the world.”