"In order not to live in separation and constant waiting, in 2015 we moved from our native Kremenchuk to Mariupol... We hoped for a long and happy life together..."

We hoped for a happy life

She is a psychologist, psychotherapist, associate professor of the Department of General and Clinical Psychology of the Precarpathian National University named after V. Stefanyka. Since 2014, she has been a coordinator of international projects and an instructor on psychosocial support of the population in conditions of war and crisis, she has collaborated with the Swedish Civil Defense Union, the Danish Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, the OSCE.

The children cried almost all

The woman recalls how she took her daughter out after the release of Chuguyev, how warmly her family was greeted by the residents of Germany when they sought shelter there.

We didn't come back

He is a private entrepreneur, a resident of one of the villages in southern Ukraine. The occupiers persecuted the man because he helped our defenders during the anti-terrorist operation.

I was hiding

The "Stories of the Strong" project shares fragments of Oleg's works about what the author and his brothers saw and experienced.

War takes the best

He is an entrepreneur and volunteer from Kamianets-Podilskyi, the initiator and founder of a number of charity projects for displaced children.

I wanted to take care

The woman recalls: "... the bread from the store counters was almost the first to disappear. We had a little of it in reserve, we ate it dry. So when later volunteers brought bread to our house and distributed it for free, my mother hugged that loaf and cried with happiness..."

My dear native Kharkiv...

"I was one of those few Ukrainians who believed that all putin's statements were a bluff, a political game, that Russia would come to its senses and not attack... It turned out that we were bitterly mistaken," says Olesya Shtefan, sharing her memories for "History of the Strong ".

We were sorely mistaken

"On the eve of his death, as if anticipating disaster, the man sent me a message: "If something happens to me, don't let anyone hurt you, and the children too."

I will never see again

Starting her story for "History of the Strong", Olena Gretska from the Kherson region recalls how three days before the war she returned with her family from vacation.

Explosions were heard

Caring about the future of the children, not wanting them to grow up in the space of enemy propaganda, the family decided to evacuate.

The longest day of my life

Iryna tells why she decided to evacuate the city, where she managed to find shelter, what she does today and how her son's fate turned out.

I felt bad..

&quot;At one time, I went through army service and thought that I would never wear a military uniform again. But after the events of 2014, I reconsidered this decision, because it became obvious: the war has come to my home&quot;, Oleksandr from Mariupol tells &quot;History of the Strong&quot;. When Russia started a hybrid war, he volunteered to defend Ukraine.

Oleksandr

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&quot;On February 24, 2022, I was in Mariupol with my comrades. Was a full-scale invasion a surprise for us? No. We knew it would happen and were preparing for it. Was it possible to avoid it? I think not either. Ukraine is not the first country where Russia started a military conflict under an identical scenario&quot;.

February 24, 2022

Talking about his wife, Oleksandr recalls: &quot;We met on Valentine&#39;s Day, through the Internet... And when we met, we were inseparable. It was love at first sight&quot;.

&quot;Our children were born at the end of 2019... In order to take care of and raise two babies at once, I had to call my grandmother for help. Thanks to this, my wife was able to go to work... She also got a job in the military&quot;.

We hoped for a happy life

Defender of Ukraine

February 24, 2022

It was love at first sight