“When the first sirens sounded, I didn’t know what to do. Sumy, my city, was shaking to its foundations, and I knew I had to protect my child. We packed a few bags, got in the car, and set off into the unknown. Slovakia became our refuge—a place where we hoped to find peace. The first months were difficult."

“Almost four years ago, my husband and I moved from Moscow to Slovakia for his business. After ten years in the bustling metropolis, I felt a little unprepared for the calmer pace of Bratislava. I must admit, at first, I was really surprised. Everything was so… different. But over time, and thanks to the incredible openness and kindness of Slovaks, my initial emotions transformed into a feeling of home."

"I never imagined that I would live anywhere other than Kramatorsk. For eighteen years, I taught at the university, interpreted Chinese, and accompanied delegations to places that ordinary tourists would never see. I loved my job—the constant interaction with people and the new experiences it brought. And then the war came."