My name is Marharyta, and a few days before the war I turned 25 years old. I celebrated my birthday in Budapest. There, in their most famous ruin-bar, I wrote “Glory to Ukraine.” The day before the war I returned home and it was my last good night.
I worked as a PR manager and a journalist, participated in the struggle for the preservation of Kyiv and was an urban activist.
I had many things in my life: sports, Spanish lessons, meeting friends, and a lot of travel. It all ended one day.
There were really no alternatives. My family stayed in Kharkiv, I was alone in Kyiv. I didn’t want to run away. I wanted to do something. So I decided to become a part of the Territorial Defense Forces. My family was shocked by my decision, but they supported me.
The new reality is to sleep and wake up to the sound of sirens. It does teach you new things. I took a first aid course, so I was able to become a doctor – something like a nurse.
I am engaged in the purchase of medicines and the treatment of patients. So far, only colds, fevers, and so on.
It is not difficult to live in a team of men. I am respected and do not allow myself too much. To do this, I had to try and show that I am not a woman. Here, I am a soldier, a doctor, a colleague. I will get to be a woman again after the war.
I would very much like to tell the readers to never forget about Ukraine. The war has been going on for 8 years, and just in the last 13 days it has spread to the whole territory of our country. We are not giving up, we are not capitulating. Ukraine is the last outpost of Europe before the inadequate Putin.
Remember us, go out to protest, tell European leaders to close the sky over Ukraine.
We are grateful to the American people for their many years of support. Pray for us.