This story is from our followers. Meet Olga from Chernihiv, she left for Poland with her two children. But her journey began not from the train station or the route to Lviv in February, but from a two-week survival in a small village and crossing the river by boat.

Our cities on the border were particularly alert about the approach of war, there was a lot of talk about it among the people, the atmosphere was very tense. On February 24, Chernihiv woke up to the sound of sirens and enemy fire.

“The day before, we repaired the car. My husband filled a full tank, without any intention, just following his intuition. It turned out to save us,, because we would not be able to do any of it on February 24… »

Olga’s family decided to go to friends in a small village near Chernihiv. The option of a private house away from the city, with a basement, seemed life-saving.

“We packed things for a couple of days. I even took a hospital gown with me, a set of oils for children’s massage, I was going to continue work on Monday. “

An hour after Olga and her husband and children arrived in the village, both bridges at the entrance were blown up. Apparently, this measure was necessary, but fatal. People were trapped, the road was no longer there.

“First days were terrifying. Our village was not touched, but sirens and explosions were heard everywhere. We slept only dressed. The roar of planes, loud artillery clashes did not allow to turn off or fall asleep peacefully. The rescue basement was near the house, I had to move to it through the yard”.

On March 1, the family tried to celebrate their daughter’s birthday, to make a celebration for the children, but they had to spend this day again in the basement. Unaware of all the events, the child was certainly upset. Sure, it is important to realize the tragedy of the whole country at the age of nine, but it’s better that life doesn’t press us to explain that at all.

More time passed. The products ran out in the village that is cut off from civilization.

“One day our acquaintances from the neighboring village called us. The Nasha Ryaba factory started distributing chickens to everyone who simply had nothing to eat. The men brought nine alive chickens. Of course it was a challenge to cook food from living beings, but at least it helped us last longer… »

In a few days, it became clear – you can no longer sit still. The psychological state of the children was deteriorating, the confined space, constant running to the basement…

The rest of the men found a minibus in Chernihiv that could leave the region. But we still had to find out who would agree to drive that minibus from Chernihiv under fire, and how to get on the road with women and children. In five days we found a driver, found a neighbor with a motor boat… Behind the water crossing there was still a field to pass to get to the road.

“It was very scary because we didn’t understand what was happening behind the river, outside the village. Where are the enemy troops, where are ours, how much equipment and whose. But we were determined. Early in the morning the men took us to the river, hugged us and… and bid us farewell to a new life “.

The trip to the border lasted five days.

“It was very touching at the checkpoint: as soon as the officers saw the children on the bus, they tried to let us through very quickly. They treated us with sweets and smiled. It seemed to us that they, the soldiers, needed support, but they made our journey easier with their mood. I am very grateful to them”.

Olga is currently in Poland with her children. A month has passed, but they are still very scared of loud noises, the roar of civilian planes, propellers.

“Once in the kitchen, the girls peeled potatoes and threw them in the sink. In my dream, I confused this sound with mortar shelling, and ran out to call everyone to the basement.”

Life is gradually getting better. Volunteers helped Olga, a children’s masseur, find a job at a rehabilitation center. The youngest son went to kindergarten, the daughter returned to school… But her heart is full of thoughts about Ukraine, her native Chernihiv.

Somewhere on the fifth floor of the building, her mother remained with her 97-year-old grandmother, who could not be evacuated. Husbands stayed in the village on the river bank. The husband’s parents remain in the half destroyed house and refuse to leave. Sometimes they do not have light, you can not charge the phone and there is no connection for several days. We can only wait…

“Every night Makar asks me about my father and grandmother. He asks if they are all right”

We live for the children, for the future. Peace to all of us, let’s stay strong!