Vovchansk has always been a special town for me. I grew up, went to school, and did all kinds of activities there.

Although it was not for long, one of my favorite things to do was folk dancing. I was a member of the “Radist” (“Joy”) ensemble which met in the Cultural Center of our city. This became a place of creativity for me, where I spent the happiest moments of my life and was able to feel part of something bigger. It is where my love for dance was born. The times we met for rehearsals, hanging out, and going on stage for the performances was very special.

In preparation for entering university and beginning student life, I moved to Kharkiv. And so, I no longer met with the group as before. However, I always appreciate what my years in the ensemble gave me: skills, emotions, friends, and great memories.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, my thoughts have been returning to those wonderful times. The war has changed a lot in our lives, and each of us feels the pain of loss.

Recently I saw a photo of the center of my city, it's destroyed by Russia. The Cultural Center, where so many wonderful events took place is turned to rubble. The place where we learned to be together, to support each other, and to create something beautiful no longer exists.

It pains me to realize that the young people of our city will no longer be able to experience the special moments that we did. They will not be able to carry on the tradition of the ensemble that lived for more than a generation.

Every time I think about my hometown of Vovchansk, tears come to my eyes. And at the same time, I feel even more determined to fight for our future, for our cities, for our culture.