“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.”
Yana Oleksenko
“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…”
Angela Markova
“When the war broke out, I mostly remember the overwhelming feeling of panic that surrounded everyone…”
Aleksandra Indikt
“Some people will not experience even one war in their whole lifetime and I have already experienced two wars. I think this experience made me appreciate my life much more…”
Mariana Varshavsky
“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.”
Natalia Kryuchkova
“Refugees may flee from the physical dangers of war, but unfortunately, they cannot escape its psychological trauma.”
Alina Volodina
“The visit to Ukraine was incredibly hard for me. Witnessing firsthand the scale of the destruction, the depth of the suffering, and the staggering loss of life left a profound impact on me.”
Iryna Matviyenko
“I felt like I just had to do it. As a refugee who already ran away from a war, I knew how much those evacuees needed our help, so I’m truly happy I could help them out.”
Anna and Melanie Lubchuk
“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.”
Vlad Eliyahu Priymuk
“It took me a while to internalize this fact, but I too have become a refugee, who does not know when he will be able to return to Ukraine.”
Valentina Varshavsky
“The best advice I can give to refugees like myself is that, despite all the difficulties, you have to embrace the new reality as it is. Adapt to it as quickly as possible, don’t hide, never hide.”
Diana Bondariva
“The war in Ukraine turned me into a refugee, and I had to deal with situations I never thought I would ever have to deal with.”
Yulia Tatzko
“When I ask myself why all of this happened and how did I even ended up in Israel, I quote an Israeli friend: ‘You are here for a very simple reason: God needed you in Israel’.”
Natalia Raitman
“Life has given me a lot of perspective.
I survived the Second World War,
I survived the war in Ukraine,
I will also survive the war in Israel.”
Anna and Eva Ovcharenko
“When our President addressed the nation, saying, ‘We are introducing martial law throughout our country,’ I couldn’t breathe. Then I saw a message from my best friend: ‘Anya, it’s all started, take Eva and leave.”
Oleksandra Hrytsulia
“During the missile barrage on October 7th, Oleksandr and I were shaking with fear. It was the first time we had to protect not only ourselves but also Mikhailo, who had been born just a month earlier.”
Ksenia Kozhevina
“War places you in impossible situations, making it difficult to know which decision is right. Yet, I believe that every choice we make in life is ultimately for our best, even if we don’t always see or understand it in real time.”
Iryna Polyushkina
“It’s hard to believe that in the past two years, I’ve found myself in two different wars, but this is the reality I face. Despite everything I’ve endured, I remain optimistic because I believe that life is stronger than anything.”
Anna Polisuchenko
“A year ago, I decided to get a tattoo that would serve as a reminder of my beloved homeland and symbolize hope and optimism. I chose a design of an ear of grain, inspired by Ukraine being the ‘granary’ of Europe…”
Lidia and Alexei Bychkov
“We never imagined that we would become refugees and have to flee Ukraine. Nor did we anticipate that, after becoming refugees, we would become refuges for the second time, in Israel, but life had other plans for us.”
