We need to help each other in this terrifying situation. Images in social media – all the videos as testimonies of the conflict – show the real thing. Something has to be done to stop this tragedy – Zlata
When the war began, Zlata, a photographer from Kiev, was about to start a new job at a production company. The coming Monday was supposed to be a new, promising day for her. On Wednesday, February 23rd, she visited her parents in Chernihiv, where she is from, and when was returning to Kiev with a sense of anxiety that she couldn’t quite explain.
At 5 am the next morning, she awoke to an explosion. She went online to find news about what’s going on, but the internet was still silent. 10 minutes later, a friend wrote to her that the war was starting. The news was devastating, even more so since Zlata’s home was on the road to Boryspil, a route leading to the west of Ukraine. When she looked out the window, 30 minutes after the first explosions, there was already a line of cars ready to leave Kiev.
Zlata’s brother was the one to call her to pack up and go to one of the largest metro stations in the city – Pochaina. Her family stayed behind in Chernihiv, in hiding from the war. Her home town continues to be under air raids, with people having to seek shelter.
In Poland, Zlata will be staying with friends, and searching for work; if she’s lucky, maybe even as a photographer, but she said she’s willing to take on any employment – she wants to support her family, who stayed behind and the Ukrainian army, fighting for her country.
Story received from Caritas Poland/Zlata from Kiev was met at the Budomierz border crossing
photos: Caritas Poland