My name is Sveta. I am originally from Kherson, Ukraine and I’ve been in Edinburgh since April 2022.

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The population of Kherson before the occupation was roughly 300,000 and it has been reduced to 2% of that now. And regrettably it is still reducing due to constant missile attacks taking the lives of civilians.

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Here is my story of what I witnessed first-hand in Russian occupied Kherson.  

           

On 24th of February 2022 I woke up early, very early one morning, you might even say at night, startled by the menacing sounds in the distance. At that moment, I wasn’t aware that Russian occupying troops had already entered Ukraine and were driving through villages in military tanks and armed vehicles shooting innocent and peaceful civilians. They began destroying and killing everything and everyone in sight.  

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The Russian occupation troops had already captured the roads leading to and from Kherson. They hadn’t entered the city of Kherson yet but escaping from the city was already next to impossible! Some families made their attempt at escape that day, despite this, hoping for the best. They tried to break through the checkpoints of the Russian occupants in their cars. They managed to escape only so far. Later we found out they were shot dead by the Russian occupying forces and mercenaries in their cars on the roads of Kherson region!

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On March 1st Russian troops entered Kherson city. The courageous Kherson men stood up to defend their families and their native city. But what chance did they have? Several months before the invasion the head of the local administration under some pretense ordered civilians to surrender anything that could be used as weapons such as hunting weapons or any other kind of weapons. As a matter of fact, we faced the armed Russian army barehanded. We were rendered helpless in front of this gigantic monster! Thus, what weapons could our men have? Some created homemade explosives to defend themselves, their families and their communities. All those who stood up against the aggression were shot dead from the tanks. All of them who came to defend Kherson. The youngest was 17 and the oldest was 60. Now you can understand the title of my story to honour our selfless, brave and courageous defenders.

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The very same day the Russian occupants were driving on their tanks along Kherson streets firing at the residential houses. Our house was one of the first they fired at. One of our neighbour’s balconies collapsed to the ground. The house was shaking. Some people were injured. My darling daughter fell to the floor and covered her head with her hands. I just froze on the spot and continued to stand. The entire world collapsed for us at that moment! Russia began the genocide of Ukrainians. They have taken away everything from us: our freedom, our right to exist, our land and our future. My life disappeared overnight when I lost my home, my Kherson…

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The Russian occupants were driving along the streets of Kherson shooting all those they didn’t like for this or that reason. And then they didn’t allow people to take the dead bodies of their loved ones! There was blood on the walls of the buildings and pavements. We lived under Russian occupation for 25 days! I would never wish anyone to live a single day under Russian occupation!

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My family managed to leave Kherson! On the 3rd attempt! Yes, we were lucky! We managed to survive.

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But for all those who were killed, the perpetrators should face justice and be brought to trial!  They have to be held responsible for all the terror! They have to pay for the death of every single person! For destroying the health of every single person! For every single ruined house! For every single killed pet!

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I would also like to express my gratitude to the people of Scotland for rendering us help, providing us with everything necessary and keeping us safe. Our lives would have been drastically different if not for you.

 

I am really sorry that I am old and perhaps won’t see my homeland again with my own eyes within my lifetime.  I feel a strong desire for my daughter to return to Ukraine, and witness those who have wronged our people brought to justice.

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My dream is for Ukraine to be triumphant and victorious.

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Ukraine, our country of marigolds, sunflowers and wheatfields . We will be forever proud to be Ukrainian people.