“Save yourself and your child, don’t worry about father and me. Leave everything and go! As far away as possible”

Hi. My name is Natalia. I’m from Odesa, it’s a big beautiful city on the Black Sea.

On the 24th of February I woke up to a strong explosion. I didn’t understand what it was. There was no advance warning or air raid warning. No one could imagine that it would be a war in our modern world.

My mother called me first. It was heard through the phone that she was running, breathing heavily and crying: “We are bombed, we are trying to find shelter right now.”

My parents live in a border town and now it is occupied. They are like prisoners. It is not possible to leave the city. People who try to escape risk their lives and being shot at. I feel helpless. It is hard to imagine… to understand what one can do.

Only my mother knew what to do: “Save yourself and your child, don’t worry about father and me. Leave everything and go! As far away as possible” she said. We all understand that the most important thing parents have is their children.

That same evening we took the train to the border.

The train was going very slowly and with the lights off to be less visible…

No one should have to experience these horrible things happening in Ukraine right now. My country has the right to be happy, not to cry every day and hide its children. Ukraine is fighting for its right with its blood. It is an incredibly difficult time for us and for the entire civilized world.

It is unnecessary to spend time on accusations, insults – life is interesting and unpredictable… We win, because the truth always wins over evil! Slave to Ukraine – Era to Ukraine!

Thanks to everyone who helps in this fight.