war story
Ukraine - Jan 15, 2024
"White Lilies"
"White Lilies"
By Yana Kosinova-Zhukovska
Ukraine, Jan 15, 2024
ai–painting and story by Prysyazhnyuk Viktoriya
aiThey both loved sports and went to all the competitions in their area. It was in 2013, at a friendly volleyball match, that Victoriia and Yurii first connected. "We were standing under the net opposite each other and our eyes met. Yura smiled at me, and I smiled back at him. All the time we were looking at each other and the smile did not leave our beaming faces."
aiLater they started dating although fate kept them apart for a while. Victoriia and Yurii resumed their communication in February 2017. But again, life circumstances separated the lovers. In July 2020, Yuri reminded himself of Victoriia once more and asked her out.
ai"It was a warm and starry evening, we went for a walk and sat on a bench by the river, talking a lot. Yura asked if he could hug me. I said yes. At that moment, I knew that he was my person and that I felt very warm and comfortable with him. I still remember that hug." Their love grew stronger every day. They took care of each other and were happy. Over the years they never quarreled, they had harmony in everything.
ai"We had many plans and dreams, we often talked about our future children." But the war broke into their happy life - so terrible and unjust. On February 24, 2022, Yurii returned to the unit where he once served. On May 14, 2022, the couple decided to get married: "I wore a regular dress, and Yurii wore his military uniform from the training ground. We planned a wedding after the victory." But their plans were not to be realized.
It hurts so much that you don't know where to run and where to hide, you want to scream, scream very loudly
aiFrom the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yurii served in the 46th Brigade. Until mid-April 2022, he held the defense of Kyiv. On July 26, 2022, Yurii was on a combat mission in the Kherson direction in the village of Bilohirka. The lovers corresponded, it turned out for the last time. He was caught by enemy tank fire and received injuries incompatible with life...
ai"That was the day my life turned into existence. Every day begins and ends with the thought of my love, my happiness, my everything... It hurts so much that sometimes you don't know where to run and where to hide, you want to scream, scream very loudly... to the whole world. I love you infinitely through space and time..." Yurii was 25 years old.
aiWhen I found out about the ALIVE project, it took me a few months to be able to take part. But from the very beginning and throughout the months, I knew what I was going to paint — lilies, white lilies.
aiWhy exactly them?
aiYura was planning to come this weekend but it turned out that he couldn't because he was far away. I was upset and lost hope that I would see him... And then it was Sunday, lunchtime. I was fooling around in the yard when I heard a dog barking, I looked over. Yura got out of the car with a beautiful bouquet of white lilies whispering to the dog, "Why are you betraying me?" The last flowers from my beloved...
