‘War Diary’ By ‘Giving Joy’ Foundation. Part 2. Zoya - The Refugee from Rubizhne, Luhansk Region.

13 April 2022

The refugee stories are full of war horror, emotional pain, and at the same time, happiness because of simple things like having shower, sleeping, eating. These stories are emotional and difficult for perception. But they're very important for understanding the current situation in Ukraine and making notes about true events.
⠀
We’ve mentioned Zoya in the first part of the interview. She was the woman who was grateful to the head of the sports complex, which is now a shelter.
⠀
03.25.22.
The story of Zoya from Rubizhne, Luhansk region.
She’s been living in the shelter in Dnipro (temporary transit shelter for displaced people) since 03.24.22. The shelter was hfounded in the aquapark building.
⠀
“I got out of Rubizhne yesterday. It’s been shot since February 24th. At first I stayed in my house. But when the shooting became stronger, in 5-6 hours I came into the basement. I’ve got a house with a cellar. We were sitting there for about a month, hungry and cold. Neither food nor humanitarian help was delivered, nothing. We were sitting there with neighbors, their children, with old and ill people. We didn’t get out of the basement for days, because there were shootings every 10-15 minutes. It was very hard. Civilians were attacked.
⠀
All the infrastructure was destroyed. There isn’t any school or college left, a lot of buildings were ruined and apartments as well. Just plenty of ground instead of blocks of apartments.
⠀
Our street was also shot. There are ruined buildings. Two people were killed. I left everything and escaped in a month. We’ve got Pivdenna village. We’re told to gather for evacuation at 9 o’clock there. We came up. We’re bombed but we were going anyway. Put what we had in the bag, and moved forward. The bus arrived. We’re sitting and shaking on our way. When we saw russian blockpost - we were terrified, we thought: “if only they didn’t shoot”.
⠀
But we’re lucky to pass. They didn’t ask for money. They checked mainly mens’ documents, almost didn’t ask for womens’ documents.
⠀
We arrived at the railway station in Dnipro. I came to the volunteer at the station, and she was a very pleasant woman. She phoned here (the shelter in the aquapark) and called a taxi for me. People greeted me warmly! I was eventually sleeping well that night. I took a shower because I hadn’t had a shower and washed my head for a month. The head is completely gray, It’s impossible to live in such conditions.
⠀
I have eventually eaten a hot meal! I didn’t have a piece of bread during that time. If somebody brought some, we divided it into 4 pieces, and that's all. We couldn’t cook. There wasn't any gas, water, light and connection, it was cut off. It was harder than in 2014.
⠀
I’m grateful that we’re here! But I heard something exploded yesterday as well, we’re nervous (air defense hit a rocket that time).
But what is happening there - it’s just horrible. To understand you have to see and come through it. I was crying all days long, came here and cried.
⠀
I left everything, my house, how am I going to live? I’m alone, I don’t have anyone. My husband died, my son died. I’m grateful to the head, to everybody, who gave me shelter and a place.
⠀
So, what am I going to do next? I don’t know. People advised: “Go to Lviv, then to Poland, Germany”. But I would rather stay here so far. I’m single and scared, it’s difficult to stay lonely when you’re this age.
⠀
I went shopping and to the post office today. I didn’t have time to get a pension. Such a pleasant lady at the post office! She explained everything, gave me details, and the number of the call center, where they would explain everything and pay out the money for the last two months.
⠀
I’m very grateful to this city! I don’t have words to explain my warm feelings for those who take care of refugees like us! I really thank all of you’!
⠀
The interview was made by the foundation volunteer - Olga Levchenko

You can help settlers through the fund as follows:

liqpay
USD

Company details

БФ ДАРУЄМО РАДIСТЬ БО (Charity foundation "Giving Joy")

UA683052990000026004050013790

JSC CB "PRIVATBANK", 1D HRUSHEVSKOHO STR., KYIV, 01001, UKRAINE

PBANUA2X

UA 49087, Днiпропетровська, м. Днiпро, вул Василя Макуха, б.127

Correspondent banks:

1) 001-1-000080

CHASUS33

JP Morgan Chase Bank, New York ,USA

2) 890-0085-754

IRVT US 3N

The Bank of New York Mellon, New York, USA

Euro

БФ ДАРУЄМО РАДIСТЬ БО (Charity foundation "Giving Joy")

UA 093052990000026001050027079

Privatbank, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine

PBANUA2X

UA 49087, Днiпропетровська, м. Днiпро, вул Василя Макуха, б.127

Correspondent banks:

400886700401

COBADEFF

Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt am Main, Germany