We share our impressions from the presentation of our book in Odessa.

The Vadym Stolar Foundation presented the book "Stories of the Strong" in Odesa

The publication contains memories of Ukrainians about the beginning of a full-scale war, about the horrors they experienced and how, despite everything, they managed to survive and not lose hope.

"Stories of the Strong" is a unique book about people who survived the occupation, russian torture and active combat operations. However, they did not break and continue to live. We presented the edition in a format of a theatrical performance, which made it possible to highlight the deep meanings and live each story together with its authors. Our Foundation will continue to help people and convey the terrible truth to the world about the war firsthand - from those who are here and experiencing its hardships and horrors now", the Foundation's founder Vadym Stolar commented on the event.

The authors of the stories and Odesa residents together with People's deputies Antonina Slavytska, Anatolii Burmych, Valerii Hnatenko, Artem Dmytruk, Nataliia Prykhodko, Volodymyr Moroz, Oleksandr Kovaliov, Ievhen Shevchenko, Oleksandr Iurchenko, Ievhen Iakovenko, Ihor Kisiliov, Anatolii Urbanskii, Mykola Skoryk, Artem Chornomorov, deputies of Odesa regional and city councils, political and public figures were present at the event which took place in the UNION cultural center.

The heroes of the book, who were present at the presentation, shared their stories from the stage. "We did not immediately understand that the war had come. We realized only when airplanes started flying. The scariest thing was when night came, and you don't understand where the bomb will fall", Larysa Golovan said.

Maryna Provotorova noted that the war began in her homeland to her - Luhansk region - back in 2014. "I left my home on the first day of the war, and since then all my experiences have become rhyming lines. This is a chronicle of the war, which will become a poetry collection soon", she said.

Svitlana’s Trubachova husband was a border guard and died on the 50th day of the war. "It was the scariest day in my life when the commander called and informed me that my beloved was no longer there. I tell my children that they can't give up, because dad is a hero, and mom does everything for dad's memory!", the woman emphasized.

Eduard Bobrovytskyi in his turn shared the story of his neighbor, which really impressed him. "He was transferred to serve in Mariupol a month and a half before the war. They were captured in May where he stayed for 21 months. Think about it, the boy is 23 now, and he spent 21 months in captivity! He returned home on February 8, when there was a 100-for-100 exchange", he said.

A theatrical performance "The Story of the Strong" took place after the speeches of the authors. It staged and played by a team of young actors from Kyiv theaters. They managed to create a truly modern and interesting interpretation, to creatively rethink each of the stories included in the book.

A volunteer of the Foundation Nataliia Prykhodko noted that the book was published in English and Ukrainian simultaneously.

"We want to present "Stories of the Strong" not only in Ukraine but also abroad. We want the whole world to hear and see what Ukrainians go through every day", she said.