Ukraine, Kharkiv Israel, Beer Sheva “The war in Ukraine surprised me just like October 7th surprised the Israelis. The war with Russia was mainly in the south and southeast of the country and I didn’t really believe that it would break out in the Kharkiv area as well. When the massive Russian bombings started, we fled to our basement. However, I discovered that descending from the ninth floor didn’t always guarantee safety; sometimes, you couldn’t reach the basement in time so you would pray that the shockwaves from the explosions won’t kill you. Ukraine does not have anti-missile defense systems such as the ‘Iron Dome’ or the ‘Arrow’ system, so that if missiles are fired at us, half of the country takes shelter. In Israel, the anti-missile defense systems can estimate where the missile will land, so that the alarms are activated accordingly. Ukraine does not have this capability, so ...

Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Israel, Petah Tikva “I arrived in Israel with my six-year-old daughter, Eva, a month after the war broke out in Ukraine. Moving to Israel as a refugee, combined with the constant worry for my family’s safety back in Ukraine, led me into a depression that I have struggled with for the past two years. Despite the horrendous war and the security risks, I really wanted to return and visit my family in Ukraine. I was supposed to fly to Ukraine on October 13th, but October 7th changed all my plans. I felt like the world was crashing down on me again for the second time in less than two years. I felt that the war in Israel was clipping my wings, and that I had to get out of here as soon as possible. I was able to get on an emergency flight to foreign citizens from Israel ...

Ukraine, Kyiv, Bucha Israel, Haifa “For me, the most difficult thing to deal with during the war was the constant fear for my children. They are the most precious part of my life, and I could not bear the thought of losing them. So, as soon as the war in Ukraine began, we fled from Kyiv to our village home in the Bucha region, believing we were escaping to a safer area. However, we ended up in one of the most dangerous places in Ukraine, where a horrific massacre of innocent civilians occurred. My youngest daughter and I eventually escaped from Ukraine to Budapest, and from there, we made our way to Israel. My eldest son stayed behind in Ukraine. Despite having no military training, he enlisted in the army and has been fighting on the most dangerous fronts against the Russians for the past two years. His family – ...

Ukraine, Kyiv Israel, Haifa “The war began at five in the morning, and I still remember the blaring alarms and the explosions echoing throughout Kyiv. Anyone who hasn’t experienced war can’t truly understand the pervasive fear that accompanies it. The greatest fear comes from not having control over your life and not knowing what might happen to you and your loved ones. At any moment, a missile or shell could explode near you and kill you instantly. This is exactly what happened to my good friend, who was killed by a Russian tank shell fired at her house. At the beginning of the war, my son, who lives in Israel, called us urgently, pleading for us to escape from Kyiv and come to Israel. Since my husband was still of draft age, he had to stay behind. I remember we didn’t even have time for a proper goodbye. everything happened ...

Ukraine, Kyiv Israel, Tel Aviv “I was born in Dnipro in 1992, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Ukraine was already independent, so I don’t know any other reality. My childhood in Ukraine was happy, and I had a good, joyful life until the Russian invasion. Until the last moment, I didn’t truly believe that the Russians would start a war against us. I remember being alone at home with my cat – Nuts, when suddenly alarms sounded. Checking my cellphone, I saw a message from a good friend of mine, informing me that the war, which I hadn’t believed would break out, had begun. Until the very end, I refused to believe that a war was imminent. I was in denial. I didn’t stock up on emergency supplies, didn’t pack a suitcase in case I needed to flee, and barely paid attention to the news. I desperately ...

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 ...

Angela Markova’s daughter Ukraine, Kyiv, Motyzhyn (Bucha region) Israel, Petah Tikva “In Ukraine, we had no safe room or a bomb shelter to take refuge in. The war left us without electricity, water, or food, and we endured it all in -15°C weather. I remember sitting on the cold floor in the basement of our house, surrounded by sacks of potatoes, hearing the distant echoes of explosions, and praying that nothing would happen to my family and me. We quickly realized that if we wanted to save ourselves, we had to flee. As soon as there was a ceasefire, we got into the car and started driving west. During that drive, I saw so many dead bodies and burnt cars. It is a journey I will never forget for the rest of my life. If we hadn’t managed to escape and reach the Romanian border, I don’t know what would ...

Ukraine, Kherson Israel, Lod “At 6 o’clock in the morning on 24th of February, 2022, I got a phone call from my mother In Israel saying that the Russians started their invasion to Ukraine. Because of the massive bombardment I was afraid to stay in my apartment so I went to my father’s place in a different part of the city located in a building with a deep basement. The day of the invasion I realized for the first time in my life what is the true meaning of the phrase ‘to have my heart in my mouth’. Because of the massive explosions all around the city I was really terrified. We were hiding in the basement the whole day. My emotions ranged from uncertainty and confusion to shock and despair, with an overwhelming desire to escape. Despite this, I chose to stay with my father, clinging to the hope ...