Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #UkraineWorldTestimony
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What awaits Ukrainians after victory: reflections from machine gunner Oksana Rubanyak. #UkraineWorldTestimony
Oksana Rubaniak, call sign Xena, is a 20-year-old Ukrainian writer and soldier who serves as a machine gunner with the Black Zaporizhzhians 72nd Mechanized Brigade. 1/11
Oksana Rubaniak, call sign Xena, is a 20-year-old Ukrainian writer and soldier who serves as a machine gunner with the Black Zaporizhzhians 72nd Mechanized Brigade. 1/11
Before the war, Oksana studied at university, worked in the Ivano-Frankivsk city government in the Department of Youth Policy and Sports, and co-founded a private school. 2/11
Oksana decided to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion. At first, she served in humanitarian missions in combat zones, but later took up arms herself. 3/11
How the Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital operates during the full-scale war. #UkraineWorldTestimony
The Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PFVMH) is a group of civilian volunteer medics and support staff who provide medical assistance at the front in Ukraine.
1/12
The Pirogov First Volunteer Mobile Hospital (PFVMH) is a group of civilian volunteer medics and support staff who provide medical assistance at the front in Ukraine.
1/12
PFVMH President and co-founder Gennadiy Druzenko told UkraineWorld that the hospital's volunteers are people with a high drive for service and self-realization. They are people who expect the most of themselves and the world. 2/12
Unlike many other units, PFVMH volunteers are professional medics. 95% of the Hospital's volunteers work for free. The unit's leadership provides financial assistance only to those who have been unable to keep their main jobs because of their time at the front. 3/12
The beginning of the full-scale war: experience of Kyiv businesswoman. #UkraineWorldTestimony
Iryna Synytska is the co-founder of a clothing brand & massage salon based in Kyiv. Like many other 🇺🇦s, Iryna & her family had to leave home due to the full-scale 🇷🇺invasion. 1/11
Iryna Synytska is the co-founder of a clothing brand & massage salon based in Kyiv. Like many other 🇺🇦s, Iryna & her family had to leave home due to the full-scale 🇷🇺invasion. 1/11
Iryna had prepared for the war. She and her family had been expecting a Russian attack since February 15 and believed the intelligence forecasts. Back in January, she & her husband packed an emergency backpack, got all the necessary vaccinations for themselves & their cats, 2/11
made passports for the animals just in case, and prepared a place to leave Kyiv in case of danger. The family refueled the car every day, keeping their tank and spare fuel containers ready. 3/11
The story of Khrystyna, call sign Kudryava (Curly), who defends Ukraine in the east. #UkraineWorldTestimony
30-year-old Khrystyna has been serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces for 10 years. 1/10
30-year-old Khrystyna has been serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces for 10 years. 1/10
She studied at the Kharkiv National Guard Academy & later underwent international military training. At the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, she was at a combat posting in Luhansk Oblast. 2/10
Since then, as the deputy commander of a mortar battery, she has been defending Ukraine in hot spots like Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Bakhmut. The most difficult thing for Kudryava in this war is the loss of her people. 3/10
How Russians searched the homes of Kherson residents during the occupation of the city. #UkraineWorldTestimony
Viktoriia Kirilova, who survived the 8-month occupation of Kherson, described how Russians searched the homes of locals and took people for interrogation. 1/12
Viktoriia Kirilova, who survived the 8-month occupation of Kherson, described how Russians searched the homes of locals and took people for interrogation. 1/12
She said that home searches could be divided into two types:
1️⃣ From 9 to 12 armed officers would enter a home. Sometimes they would say they were from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) because they were driving cars with 🇺🇦 license plates stolen from local residents. 2/12
1️⃣ From 9 to 12 armed officers would enter a home. Sometimes they would say they were from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) because they were driving cars with 🇺🇦 license plates stolen from local residents. 2/12
Of course, they couldn't have been from the SBU, because the occupiers would have imprisoned or shot any SBU personnel.
If you were lucky, the hours-long interrogation would take place at your home, says Kirilova. The occupiers would pressure people to collaborate with them. 3/12
If you were lucky, the hours-long interrogation would take place at your home, says Kirilova. The occupiers would pressure people to collaborate with them. 3/12
The story of Zakhar Biryukov, who was seriously injured in the war and is now undergoing treatment abroad. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/12
Zakhar Biryukov joined the defense of Ukraine in 2015 because he didn't want his country to be taken over by the Russians. Zakhar couldn’t accept that some bastards had started killing his countrymen and seizing towns and villages, so he chose to fight them. 2/12
As a soldier, Zakhar realized that a full-scale war was inevitable. He and his comrades did not know when exactly Russia would attempt a full invasion of Ukraine, but he was ready for it. 3/12
The story of Tetiana Korchahina, who left Kharkiv with her children. #UkraineWorldTestimony
📅 On 24 February 2022, Tetiana woke up to the sound of explosions and immediately thought, "Oh my God, has it really started?" 1/11
📅 On 24 February 2022, Tetiana woke up to the sound of explosions and immediately thought, "Oh my God, has it really started?" 1/11
For the previous few days, all she could talk to her friends and family about was the possibility of Russia attacking Ukraine. But it was still hard for Tetiana to believe such savagery could happen in the 21st century. 2/11
She went into her living room to find her husband awake. Soon, the whole street had woken up. There were nonstop📱calls and 💬. Everyone was in shock. Tetiana didn't know what to do, even though she had been packing her go bag for over a week. Her husband insisted on it. 3/11
🏠 The story of Natalie Al Baz, whose family fled a 🇷🇺-occupied village and started a new life in an abandoned house in a small hamlet.
Before the full-scale 🇷🇺 invasion, the family lived in their new house in the village of Tsyrkuny near Kharkiv.
#UkraineWorldTestimony 1/14
Before the full-scale 🇷🇺 invasion, the family lived in their new house in the village of Tsyrkuny near Kharkiv.
#UkraineWorldTestimony 1/14
On Feb. 24, 2022, the village was occupied, so they evacuated and settled in an abandoned house in a khutir (a small rural settlement).
Natalie is now restoring this house and showing the process of its renovation on her Instagram - instagram.com/khutoraesthetic 2/14
Natalie is now restoring this house and showing the process of its renovation on her Instagram - instagram.com/khutoraesthetic 2/14
However, Natalie, her husband, and their 5-year-old daughter still had to live the first week of the war under occupation. The fact that they were able to leave was a miracle. 3/14
📌 How Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, lives during the war: The story of the head of the local humanitarian center. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/12
Marharyta Horbatenko runs the For Nikopol's Children charity, which, after the full-scale Russian invasion, turned from a center for helping children with cancer into a broad-purpose humanitarian aid center for those affected by the war. 2/12
"We took care of a 7-year-old girl whose legs were blown off by an explosion. We raised money for her prostheses and treatment. Now she is in Poland for rehabilitation," Marharyta explains. 3/12
How Russia held its pseudo-referendum in Kherson: a local woman's story. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/11
From September 23 to 27, 2022, Russian occupation authorities held so-called "referenda" on joining the Russian Federation in the territories they controlled in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk Oblasts. 2/11
Even before the results were announced, Russian propagandists claimed high voter turnout, significant public support, and a generally fair and transparent expression of the “people’s will.” 3/11
The story of Oleksiy Prytula, who was seriously injured in the war. 1/13 #UkraineWorldTestimony
Before the full-scale Russian invasion, 41-year-old Oleksiy Prytula from Izmail, Odesa Oblast, worked as a veterinarian. After February 24, he prepared food for Ukrainian soldiers with his wife, helped IDPs, made camouflage nets, and donated blood. 2/13
In the first days of the war, Oleksiy was accepted at the enlistment office because he had no military experience. However, on July 4, he received a call from the enlistment office and was informed that he had to be ready to go the next day. 3/13
📌 What the Russian invaders took from Khersonians by occupying the city. #UkraineWorldTestimony
Viktoria Kirilova, a local resident of Kherson and the owner of a podiatry clinic spoke about what happened in the city after the arrival of the Russian occupiers. 1/10
Viktoria Kirilova, a local resident of Kherson and the owner of a podiatry clinic spoke about what happened in the city after the arrival of the Russian occupiers. 1/10
Ukrainian petrol was totally gone. During the first month of the occupation, Kherson residents had to all travel on foot. It was dangerous to use cars because the occupiers would simply take them away from people. 2/10
The Russians expelled people from their apartments and houses. "In my opinion, it was better to have a house destroyed by one of our missiles than by having the occupiers live in it. They are a nation of freaks. They just brazenly started living among us," says Viktoria. 3/10
The story of Kateryna Markova from Zaporizhzhya, who evacuated from her hometown with her little son. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/12
Even before the full-scale Russian invasion, Kateryna Markova's family knew that there would be an attack, so they were looking for ways to get their little son Markian out in advance. 2/12
On February 21, Kateryna bought tickets to Antalya for herself, her mother, and her son. To save $100, she bought tickets for February 24, not February 22. They wanted to believe that this trip would be just quick getaway to somewhere warm. 3/12
The story of Myroslava Svistovych, who left occupied Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, with her daughter. #UkraineWorldTestimony
On March 7, 2022, Myroslava & Lada managed to escape. At that time, there was heavy fighting between 🇷🇺 and 🇺🇦 forces, so it was dangerous to stay at home. 1/11
On March 7, 2022, Myroslava & Lada managed to escape. At that time, there was heavy fighting between 🇷🇺 and 🇺🇦 forces, so it was dangerous to stay at home. 1/11
The evacuation from Irpin was also highly dangerous and risky. Myroslava and her daughter were almost killed trying to leave the city. 2/11
"Our 🚗 sped down Tyschenko Street and turned onto Universitetska Street. A friend from Kyiv 📱 me. "Taya, we are in a hurry to evacuate, I’ll call you back later." I turned off 📱 and saw how the windshield of our car was blown away by the burst fire…", Myroslava recalls. 3/11
The story of Maryna Holovnova, who managed to evacuate from Mariupol. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/12
On March 8, Mariupol no longer had electricity, heating, communications, gas, or local government officials remaining representatives of local authorities (with a handful of very brave exceptions). 2/12
Maryna Holovnova and her family slept in a windowless room and hoped that the two walls around them would protect them from Russian shells. To be more precise, they almost did not sleep at all, because they could hardly breathe from the fear and cold. 3/12
📌 Serhii Yanchenko has been defending Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion. In his free time, he shares stories from the front on his Instagram - instagram.com/serhii_yanchen… #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/14
🖊 We are publishing one of Serhii's texts in his voice:
We were lying in ambush for about half an hour. Summer, temperature +30, the sun at its peak zenith, and we were in full gear. I was sweating like I was in a sauna. 2/14
We were lying in ambush for about half an hour. Summer, temperature +30, the sun at its peak zenith, and we were in full gear. I was sweating like I was in a sauna. 2/14
Tonight I was on duty at the observation post and did not sleep at all. Our first group didn't make contact for a long time, so we just waited. Mentally, I wanted some action to start because I was barely keeping myself from falling asleep. 3/14
The beginning of the Russian occupation of Kherson. The story of Viktoria Kirilova. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/14
On Feb. 23, 2022, late in the evening, Viktoria spoke to her friends about how war was impossible. She simply didn't believe such cruelty and military aggression were possible in our time. But at 5 am on Feb. 24, Viktoria received a call that a full-scale war had begun. 2/14
"At 6 am, we were standing in line for a gas station, & then an air raid🔊sounded. It was the 1st air alarm in my life, & I was completely confused about what to do. People started running to⛽building, but it clearly wouldn't have saved them if it was hit," Viktoria recalls.3/14
The story of Ukrainian soldier Serhii Yanchenko. #UkraineWorldTestimony
The day before the full-scale 🇷🇺 invasion, Serhii came to the Sumy territorial defense and left his information so that in the event of war, he could be quickly found and called to defend the city. 1/13
The day before the full-scale 🇷🇺 invasion, Serhii came to the Sumy territorial defense and left his information so that in the event of war, he could be quickly found and called to defend the city. 1/13
On February 24, the full-scale war began, which was not a surprise to Serhii. He was ready to protect the city and fight the Russian invaders. He received a weapon, and so a new stage in his life began - being a soldier. 2/13
Now Serhii is fighting in eastern Ukraine and occasionally publishes stories about his military experience on his Instagram -instagram.com/serhii_yanchen…
We are publishing one of Serhii Yanchenko's texts in his voice. 3/13
We are publishing one of Serhii Yanchenko's texts in his voice. 3/13
The story of Serhiy and his mother from the village of Kamyanka, Kharkiv Oblast. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/13
The small village of Kamyanka lies between Izyum and Sloviansk. After the full-scale Russian invasion, its landscape is truly apocalyptic. There is not a single house left standing in the village. Each and every one has been completely destroyed. 2/13
Their village holds only ruins: ruins of houses, shops, destroyed farming equipment, and skeletons of cows. There are many burned out and blown up military vehicles on the roadsides. At first it seems that there is not a single living creature left. But this is not so. 3/13
The story of Maria Ivanyuk, who managed to leave an occupied village in Kyiv Oblast with her son. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/13
Maria had prepared in advance for a possible full-scale 🇷🇺 invasion. A few weeks before Feb. 24, she already had bags packed with everything she needed. She always took documents and a 🎒 with a basic supply of food, medicine, and other important things when she went out. 2/13
On February 24, Maria and her husband woke up to explosions. They immediately understood where they were from. Then her husband got a phone call and they knew that Russia had indeed started a full-scale war. 3/13
Evacuation under fire: the story of a family from Bucha. 1/13 #UkraineWorldTestimony
On the 1st day of the full-scale 🇷🇺 invasion, Iryna and her husband were in shock and didn't know what to do. They had 2 children, 7 and 9 years old. In the next 2 days, they waited for a planned evacuation, but they couldn't contact the city council to clarify the details. 2/13
On the third day, electricity problems began in Bucha. Since Iryna's family had not prepared for life at war, they had to resort to using expensive perfumed candles to light the underground parking garage where they were hiding from Russian bombs and shells. 3/13
📌 The story of Ukrainian soldier Ihor Gannenko, who survived the enemy fire but lost his comrades. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/15
Before the full-scale Russian invasion, Ihor Gannenko was the director of a youth center. He traveled the world with his wife and was even a deputy o the Sumy Oblast Council. But everything changed on February 24, and Ihor took up arms to defend Ukraine. 2/15
In his free time, Ihor has kept a blog in which he records the events that happened to him during this war. We are publishing Ihor's story about being hit by a mortar in his voice. 3/15
Russia/putin did this to a 19-year-old Ukrainian. Russia/putin did this to Ruslana, who volunteered to defend her country. Russia/putin did this to countless thousands of innocent victims. Russia/putin will not stop, until they’re stopped.
#NeverForget #UkraineWillWin
#NeverForget #UkraineWillWin
📷 Photo credit – Костянтин та Влада Ліберови via @bbcukrainian
The story of 19-year-old defender Ruslana Danilkina, who lost her leg to Russian shelling. #UkraineWorldTestimony 1/14
Ruslana Danilkina volunteered to defend Ukraine when she was 18 years old. During the first three weeks of service, she worked on "judicial investigations." Ruslana sometimes had to go to the frontline to get information. 2/14
After several of these trips, she realized that working with papers was not for her. She wanted to make herself useful in places where fighting was happening. Even though her commander didn't want to take such a young and fragile girl into his unit, Ruslana insisted. 3/14
