The Year of War, which was to last 3 days

gazetafenestra.pl 2 years ago

When the first missiles began falling on Ukrainian cities on February 24, 2022, no 1 expected us to watch the war drama more than a year later. "Special military operation", which Putin said would only last 3 days, continues to this day and there is no indication that it will end in a moment. The planet was highly amazed by the courage and stubbornness of average Ukrainians.

At 4:55 p.m., Putin gave a speech that began the invasion. virtually a fewer minutes later, emergency sirens sounded in Kiev and Kharkiv. Airfields, headquarters, anti-aircraft defenses destroyed. On that day, the Russians besides attacked the Serpent Island, where historical words had already been said: “Russian war coral, idi na ch*j” (“Russian warship, p***l). The island of Western media then began to call it "Ukrainian Thermopiles". The heroism of Ukrainians led by president Volodymyr Zelenski has aroused admiration for people around the planet and surprises to this day. The war, which Putin said would last only 3 days, late had its first anniversary.

Heroes vs. criminals

The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski, announced the mobilisation of all men aged 18 to 60. Since then, they could not leave the country. Many of those who were abroad on February 24 besides returned to defend their homeland. Since 2019, an audiovisual production student at Adam Mickiewicz University, Vladislav Kravchenko, besides wanted to join the army.

– I wanted to leave right distant and join the army. However, erstwhile my loved ones learned that I was already packing things, they started asking me to aid Ukraine and the Ukrainians in a different way. Talking to my parents made me realize that my departure, my fear of my life... All this would destruct them – the boy recalls.

When Vladislav planned to leave Poland, there were already fierce fights in Ukraine. 1 of the many brutally destroyed cities by the Russians was Mariupol. It was in him that the theatre was bombed, where hundreds of civilians were hiding. On March 14, a private American company released satellite images of this site. On the ground around the building there were signs of “children”. Over a 1000 innocent people died in the bombing. This was not the only case in which the Russians attacked the civilian population. They have repeatedly thwarted planned evacuations from Mariupola or prevented the creation of a humanitarian corridor. They shot up hospitals, schools, and residential buildings.

In the occupied city, Azowstal remained the last point of opposition for a long time, and in it soldiers of the Azov regiment, whose heroism has besides become history. The workers of the steelworks defended themselves in metallurgical plants for 63 days despite deficiency of food, weapons and drugs. Almost all effort to supply support with helicopters was a disaster. On May 24, heroic defence ended and about 2.5 1000 people, including 78 women, were imprisoned in Russia.

At the end of March 2022, the planet was surrounded by shocking information from Bucza, a tiny town located close Kiev. Earlier surely only a fewer Poles have always heard of this village. Today, there is widespread talk of a crime or massacre in Bucza. He's inactive investigating the UN. Snipers shot at people who came out of their homes for water or food. There were bodies in the streets that couldn't be buried. any of the dead had their hands tied. The recordings from Buczy show the cyclist the tank is shooting at. The photographs show a partially buried remains of the ancient with traces of torture. Russians murdered, raped, and stole. Not just in this town.

Poland as a safe haven

In March 2022 Daria Olizarovy arrived in Poland, a student from Odessa who presently lives in Szczecin and studies architecture. The course, which could usually be overcome in 1 day, lasted as long as 4 days. So many people have tried to cross the border of Ukraine. Among them, Daria and her parent and younger brother. No dad. This 1 had to stay in the country to fight.

– erstwhile we said goodbye, we had a minute, possibly two. At that minute I thought I saw him and hugged him for the last time – says the girl.

Daria's first days of war were spent in Odessa, so she heard explosions close her home and saw a rocket flying out the window. She explains that this is why she was later afraid of loud street sounds, flashes or emergency sirens.

Daria besides mentions her first weeks in Poland. It was hard not only to talk a abroad language but besides to work in college.

– Our nations have different ways of thinking. It is rather hard to adapt to this, but it is even harder to realize how to do the task, especially erstwhile working in groups. I think any students understood that I had a problem with it, but there were besides people who resented me for not getting involved. However, it is hard to take the initiative erstwhile you don't know the language, the scope of the project, and at the same time you worry about your loved ones and your household home," he says.

Daria emphasizes that she does not talk to her colleagues about the war. I don't want to origin any trouble. He says I'm the first individual he tells about it.

Like Daria, many Ukrainians decided to go to Poland. According to the Border Guard, more than 10 million refugees have arrived in our country since the beginning of the war.

To say the war changed the lives of millions of Ukrainians by 180 degrees is to say nothing. surviving in peace, even if there is simply a war going on just beyond our borders, we cannot imagine what millions of Ukrainians present feel, including those who have found safe shelter abroad.

– I'm utilized to surviving like this, but sometimes I miss my city, my home, my friends, and my normality. Even if I'm fortunate to be back in the country, I'm not going back to life like before the war. But I effort not to complain due to the fact that I'm fortunate to be safe, and my loved ones are alive. Many Ukrainians no longer have families and homes. 1 day they just went out to get groceries, and erstwhile they returned, they saw the ruins of their hometown," says Daria.

Vladislav adds that he would like to be able to think about the future. However, he knows that his plans, like the plans of millions of Ukrainians, can be destroyed in a moment.

Different roads, 1 goal

The highly hard beginnings of their stay in Poland were trying to make it easier for Ukrainian volunteers. Among them, Dasha, a student of journalism and social communication at CISiD and the founder of the language school “Language” in Bydgoszcz. She came to Poland before the war, in 2017. A household came with her. She began teaching Polish by preparing her mother's friend for the exam. She later taught friends, friends, until yet in February 2022 she opened her office. Shortly afterwards, she had to turn them into a volunteer staff, a humanitarian aid magazine and a Polish language teaching site.

I called my grandma on February 23 and asked her to come to us. I felt something was going on. Thursday I woke up, turned on the Internet, and the planet collapsed. It was the worst morning of my life. Everything went on like the fog: work 24/7, organizing help, writing posts, talking, checking messages 24/7. My work was hard, too. Everyone came to language school with their own luggage, so apart from being a teacher, I was besides a scientist for many," Dasha says.

Vladislav besides helped Ukrainians coming to Poland. He was a volunteer at the "Arena" point. He was looking for housing, jobs, emotional support. He was besides an interpreter with a psychologist. due to the fact that he could not straight fight for his country, he joined the cybermilitary.

– We have destroyed Russian authoritative sites, as well as infrastructure," she explains.

Daria adds that present all Ukrainian is trying to aid his country. any give money to the army, others light candles for soldiers in trenches, others volunteer to the army. Daria wants to get a good education to rebuild Ukraine as an architect after her victory.

The war did not begin on February 24

During the first months of the war, the full planet lived in events from Ukraine. Almost everyone was following current information, providing collections, bringing food, clothing, and cleaning supplies to aid points. After a year we slow forget or effort to forget what is happening beyond the east border, and after all, the war is inactive going on.

In August, Ukrainian troops begin to usage weapons delivered from the West. In September, they carry out a fast counteroffensive and reflect large areas in the Kharkiv area. Consequently, Putin announces mobilization, and thousands of Russians effort to leave the country. In early October, the Kerchen bridge, which connects Crimea with Russia, is blown up. In November Russian troops retreat from Chersonia. The battles for Bachmut have continued since December. president Volodymyr Zelenski continues to ask Western countries for support and weapons, seeking to join NATO and the European Union. In February, Polish leopard tanks yet scope Ukraine. The Russians proceed to murder, rape and steal. The war continues, but as my interlocutors emphasize, it did not begin on February 24.

When the Russians shot up Kiev, I was not surprised. I understood that the war that has been going on since 2014, in 2022 will decision to the next phase – says Vladislav Krachenko.

What can we do, now that less and less people are writing posts, is it sharing messages from Ukraine or is it volunteering? First of all, remember that the war has not ended, that millions of people are suffering and fighting for their country right next to them.

Karolina SZMYGIN

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