On 24 February, when the full-scale war started, we didn’t plan to go anywhere because it was our home, it was all we had. But when the first artillery shelling hit our complex of apartments and everything started shaking, we thought it was the end and the building would collapse. We waited until the morning. We were still alive, the three of us: my mother, my son and myself.

My son has a car, so we loaded it up and drove away. The journey was very hard. At every checkpoint we had to queue for two or three hours. Finally we arrived in Uzhhorod. We were relocated to Perechyn. It’s a big school building but it’s not in the best condition.But we are thankful for this accommodation.

We are thankful for everything, but it’s very difficult to cope with our thoughts as in our heads we are constantly going back home.