THE WAR IS CONTINUING. TEN YEARS AGO...

war story

Маріуполь - Feb 10, 2025

THE WAR IS CONTINUING. TEN YEARS AGO...

By Tayana

Маріуполь ,
Feb 10, 2025

aiJanuary 24, 2015 became one of the worst days of my life. I was pregnant and lived with my family in Mariupol. The city all at once came under heavy shelling, and our residential district, Vostochny, was at the epicenter of this terrible attack. It was so intense that we had no idea if we would survive.

aiI remember standing by our glass door, trying to protect myself, not thinking that this could lead to tragedy. I kept grasping the door, even though I knew it couldn't protect us from the explosions and shrapnel. When I went outside after this first attack, I saw a horrible picture - dead people lying on the ground. This was the reality we had to face.

My child does not know what it means to live without war

aiThe shelling continued, so my husband and I decided we must leave. Because of the danger in our neighborhood, we fled to my parents' house in Prymorskyi district, but it was not easy to get away. Taxis and buses refused to come because of the shelling. We managed to escape to a calmer part of the city. And then I was able to breathe. I realized how important it is to have a place where you can feel safe.

aiMy daughter was born a few months after these terrible events. There was relative calm but everything was so uncertain, and I realized we had to keep going on. The memories of January 24, 2015 and how we survived the shelling are very strong to this day. They taught me that even in the darkest moments of life, you can find the strength to forge ahead, to fight for your happiness and safety.

My daughter Sophia, born in Mariupol in 2015. Photo 2019.

Sophia in the park 2019.

Sophia near department store UKRAINA which became a refuge center during the Mariupol blockade in 2022. Russian aircraft and artillery ruthlessly shelled the area. The department store was damaged and a fire broke out.