Due to possible threats to the security of this family, we chose to unpublish the images identifying the family. The family remains under occupation, and truly needs help.

Hello! My name is Iryna. When the war started, we woke up at 4:30 in the morning to loud explosions. The windows vibrated. We did not understand what was happening. We did not believe that the war had started. But everything thundered in the city, and doubts disappeared. Near us is Chornobayivka. It was very loud and very scary. Life has changed radically. Everything has changed for the worse. At first, it was very scary, first of all, I was afraid for the children. There was no money, no food, it was scary to go outside. I have a sick child, so I take care of him. We receive help from volunteers. We are in Kherson under occupation. Sometimes it’s even embarrassing to turn to volunteers because we understand that we are not the only ones, there are many of us, including the elderly, mothers with many children, and the unemployed. People lost everything. Shops were closed, and some shops were bombed and looted there. People lost their jobs. People are now trading in the market, with tables outside. The prices for everything are very high. The children are now used to the war in 4 months, but at first, it was scary. They were frightened by every sharp sound. And it still scares me. We get up at night if the glass in the windows starts to shake. We immediately run to hide. I have 6 children. The eldest daughters are 20 and 19 years old, son Hlib is 13 years old, Anastasiya is 11 years old, Mariya is 9 years old, and Zhenya is 5 years old. I receive social benefits of UAH 2,100. My mother lives with me, she is ill. She receives a pension. We did not receive help from UNICEF and the Red Cross. We made an application but did not receive anything. We live in a hostel in Kherson. We don’t pay rent now. In connection with the war, we can not pay, and I am grateful for that. I need financial help for medicine, I am sick now, and my youngest child is sick too. Medicines are very expensive now. Medicines that cost UAH 50 now cost UAH 250. The prices of products have also increased. We see our future in Ukraine, we hope that the country will return to its lands. We now live in Ukraine and hope that Ukraine will continue to be whole, as it was before. May God give us a speedy recovery and prosperity after all this. The world should hear that Kherson is Ukraine. It is difficult to live under occupation. We are not given “green corridors” to bring in humanitarian aid and food products. When all this comes from russia, it costs a lot of money. Kherson is Ukraine, free us from the occupation as soon as possible. We are waiting for our Armed Forces. I am most afraid for the lives of my children and grandchildren. We want this to end as soon as possible and with minimal losses. Thank you!