Lora
February 26th, 2022 changed Lora’s life in many ways. But not in the same way the year 2014 had.
“Actually, in Ukraine, the war began in 2014 after the Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv,” Lora recounts. “My father, was one of the first volunteers who joined the army to defend the east of Ukraine.” Lora was 28 years old at the time.
Many people outside of Ukraine are unfamiliar with this event that ultimately forced Russian-backed President Viktor Yanukovych out of power. Ukraine had gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and, in 2014, was beginning the process of making a deal with the European Union. However, Yanukovych, who was under the influence of Vladimir Putin, refused to sign the agreement. Some 25,000 people took to the streets of Kyiv in protest. Dozens of Ukrainians were killed, and Yanukovych ultimately fled to Russia.
War broke out between the Russian-backed separatists located within the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and the people who wanted these regions to remain a part of Ukraine. It was during this time that Lora lost her father. “He was killed right at the beginning of the war in 2014.” Lora recounts, “He was at the frontline, and he took part in several significant operations. He was a commander, so he was a real leader for those who defended our country. Unfortunately, during the special operation in the Luhansk region, he was killed by artillery.”
Lora’s father was 53 years old when he made this sacrifice, and the effect of his death on Lora and her family was profound. “The parts of his body were found near his tank. We did not have a possibility to see his body as the coffin could not be opened. It was really painful for us to bury him. However, he did so much; he protected our freedom and sovereignty. He did everything he could to help Ukrainians.”
While much of the fighting stopped in 2015 when France and Germany stepped in to help provide the Minsk treaty, skirmishes continued, and 14,000 additional people were killed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions alone leading up to February of 2022, when the Russians decided to attack Ukraine.
“We were in Kyiv when the war broke out,” Lora recalls. “Kyiv was under heavy attack, so all people were deeply stressed. In Kyiv we lived near the Ministry of Defense, so it was really dangerous to stay there as such objects were under the threat of attack. There were air raid sirens almost all the time. Nevertheless, instead of staying in the shelter, we took our documents and most essential possessions and headed to the Ukrainian-Polish border. We were not sure where to go. However, we did not want to stay in a refugee center.”
“We didn’t want to go by car as it seemed to be dangerous. There was no public transport in Kyiv, so we went to the railway station on foot during the air raid siren, and we decided to take a train to Lviv. From Lviv we went to Przemyśl. The road was exhausting, and the train stopped in the field for nine hours. The train was crowded; there was not enough space or fresh air. It was nighttime, so we turned off all the lights as we were afraid of possible missile attacks.”
Lora and her two sisters made it to Poland after two days of strenuous travel. “Poland, as the closest and safest country, hosts so many people here. Polish people are really generous and helpful. At first we were afraid of prejudice, disrespect, or even violence. However, all our fears were not justified.” A family of bank workers who had three daughters of their own invited Lora and her sisters to live in their townhome free of charge. Crazily enough, both of Lora’s sisters were bank workers back in Ukraine, so they fit right in. “They treat us as a family,” she says, “We are really thankful for their help.”
Lora and her sisters don’t believe the war will end anytime soon and plan to pursue their careers in either Poland or another European country that will accept them. However, Lora still has a passion to see Ukraine become part of the European Union. “The European Union should be aware that Ukrainians defend European values and protect the freedom of their motherland. Ukraine should be a democratic country without terror or terrorism. Every citizen should have the right to choose. If this right is taken away, it is not a democratic country.”
While very grateful for all of the help they are receiving, Lora looks forward to the day when she won’t need it. “We want to work and live our ordinary lives. We want to earn enough money not to eat at such places for refugees. Our parents always taught us that we should respect money and earn enough for living.”
“It’s not our fault that the war began,” she continues. “We all had our happy lives. We had jobs that we liked. We all had plans for the future. My two sisters planned to move into their own new apartments in March. I also have my flat. But this all is taken away from us.”
No matter where she ends up, Lora will always love her home country of Ukraine and stand on the values instilled in her by her parents. “My father was a strong man; he was dedicated to our country. He defended our motherland. He said that it is his obligation to protect us and our family. Thanks to all the soldiers who protect our country. Without them, there would be no sovereign Ukraine. We should remember them forever.”