With the beginning of the full-scale war, many people fled from bombing, sirens and missiles hitting. We remember horrible queues (because of social networking, nothing can be unseen). People left trying to survive, it is known as our main instinct.
Many people left Ukraine and tried to adjust to living abroad, some came back and many of us stay here in the country where each of the minutes can be our last one. Today we discuss the reason we are here, what makes us stay.
Karina Lysyuk:
Ukraine is my home and I don’t see myself anywhere else because I have lived here all my 19 years.
So far, at the moment, I don’t see myself in another country. Yes, it’s hard… it’s challenging to live through the shelling, the expulsions, the fear, the pain, the worries almost every day, but I don’t want to run away, I don’t know what I’m going to do abroad.
I love travelling, but I want to build my future only in Ukraine. My family is here, my boyfriend is here, who also helps our army, my job is here, which gives me incredible satisfaction, but it is a remote job, I can work from anywhere in the world, but new acquaintances, brunches, meetings are especially wonderful here.
My decision to stay here will always be, I believe, because this is my land, and my faith in victory does not fade, which means that it will come soon. And I am very glad that those who went abroad found themselves there, found a job, a home, friends from absolutely nothing, they are strong Ukrainians who are always welcome at home)
Maria Vovchyna:
I’ve chosen to stay in Ukraine for one simple reason: because it’s my home, and I’m not going to move from my rightful place. I remember the first few weeks of the full-scale war clearly. My mum, who has been living abroad for almost 9 years, tried to convince me to go abroad, so I’ll be in a safe place, not in Ukraine under the attack. But I confidently said, “No, I’m not going to move anywhere. It’s my home, I can’t leave it. I better die for it, than leave it. I’m going to stay in Ukraine as long as I can, even if it kills me or traumatizes me. I love Ukraine, our country, more than anything in this world, so I’m not going anywhere, until I can’t stay here or until some other reasons change my mind.” So, the reason I stayed in Ukraine is that there isn’t any place in the world, where I can feel truly home and in the right place.
Anastasia Shvets:
Why am I still in Ukraine?
Personally, I think the main reason why I continue to stay in Ukraine is my family, relatives, and friends. When I was in Prague in April 2022, I was worried about how my dad, both grandmothers, uncle and so on. I know that they are adults, but, you know, such feeling doesn’t leave my body, mind, and soul. I have texted them each day and called if it was possible.
The second reason is that Ukraine is my motherland, I want to be here. I love our cuisine and walks down the streets, especially in the centre, because I can feel the history in the building each time I see them. I’m addicted to our landscapes and sunset views from high hills. I appreciate seeing my nation that strong enough to laugh through the pain and war in our country. I support their thoughts that life is going on, and we should live it in our best way till we have time and chance. Besides, I want to be here, to hear that Ukraine won and celebrate with all people. This is one of my biggest dreams, and I’m sure it will come true!
Sergiy Bezverhov:
When the full-scale war started, I was 17. I could have gone abroad as a minor, but I didn’t because here is my home, here is my family, here is my girlfriend, and also my relatives were fighting at the front for everything close to me. I survived two weeks of occupation near Bucha, I lost my father near Bakhmut on May 9, 2023, and my family is in a difficult situation because my elder brother is still fighting and risking his life. I haven’t changed my opinion that this is my home and everything I love is here, that this country is important to me, but I don’t know how to continue living here because everything has become complicated. If there was a legal possibility to go abroad, I would go for at least several months to see the world with my own eyes and decide where I will plan my future life, but in general, I prefer staying here in the future.
Yevhenia Spiridonova:
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, everyone was faced with numerous problems, changes, and thoughts. The people who had the opportunity to cross the border were all thinking about whether to go. Many people left in the first days, but after a while came back, someone settled in new countries and found a place for himself there, and someone remains and continues to make their life here. The main reason why I didn’t go abroad is that I’m tired of running away from my home because of Russia. I had to move first from the Crimea where I was born, but now I have to think about staying here or not and how safe it is to stay here. Moving from the Crimea was the decision of my parents, of course, I am glad of it, but then I could not decide for myself, unlike today’s time. Maybe if my whole family had a chance to leave, I would consider this option, but I cannot leave all my loved ones here and move, not when they might be threatened. I have a little brother who won’t be sent abroad just with me, and my mom won’t move, leaving my dad here alone. Furthermore, my boyfriend is in the army. Although we rarely have the opportunity to see each other, but if I were abroad, this opportunity would not exist at all. In addition, I understand that it is still more convenient to live here, the familiar mentality, here there is a sense of support. So far, I have no desire to leave Ukraine, and I do not feel a constant threat to life to flee from the war, as all of us have become accustomed to air alerts.
Diana Gnizdetska:
I love my country very much. This is the place where I was born, grew up, found real friends and lived in a loving family. I always associate Ukraine with beautiful landscapes, trips to the sea with parents or friends. I have many wonderful memories connected with Ukraine.
However, 2 years ago, a war broke out on the territory of my country. It took my friends who were close to me. It brought grief and tears to all our people. However, despite the difficult realities in which our people live, I remain in Ukraine and want to live here.
First, I stay here because of my parents. Although I had the opportunity to go abroad, I could not agree to it because the situation in the Kyiv region was very dangerous, and I could not leave my parents. Then I understood that I wanted to be close to them, I needed their support, just as they needed mine. We had to stick together. We couldn’t go abroad together because dad just wouldn’t let him go.
Secondly, I love my home very much, I feel comfortable and calm here, so I don’t want to leave it. Of course, I was abroad, and I liked it there, but home is always more comfortable, nicer and calmer. Abroad, you feel like a stranger. And in Ukraine, everything seems familiar and simpler.
That is why I remain in Ukraine, despite the war. I want to believe that it will end soon, and I will be able to see many of my friends and loved ones again, but now I understand that this is impossible. However, faith must be in each of us.
Alisa Sivakova:
As for me, I am a foreigner and I live in Ukraine from 2021. When I came here to study in Kyiv Mohyla academy on the first course of studies, the war started, which made my presence here harder. However, even with war, I feel perfect here. It seems like Ukraine for me is my motherland. I keep staying here because I feel at home here, I don’t feel like I want to go somewhere. Honestly, it’s very difficult to explain. This is an unbelievable inner feeling, like love, passion, desire. I want to be here. I know that I am the part of this culture and I feel absolutely comfortable and relaxed here. Ukraine is my home. I like the Ukrainian language, I like traditions. In conclusion, I can say that I belong here with my heart and body and I enjoy my being in this beautiful country.
Yuliia Volynets:
I choose to stay in Ukraine, at least for the next few years, because I am not ready to change my place of residence and I don’t see the need to go abroad at the moment. Besides, Ukraine is my homeland — my family, my friends, and my beloved person are here. I am not ready to leave my close and dear people by going abroad.
Daria Kobylyanska:
I’m staying in Ukraine because I still have a hope to come back home, to my hometown Kherson one day. Also, there is my family living in Chernivtsi and I just can’t leave them. Despite the fact that we’re in different cities now, it, although it feels like they’re close to me. And one more thing is that I just adore our nature. Odesa with its Black Sea and the West of Ukraine with its mountains. It won’t ever be possible to replace our sceneries. All the cities I was in remind me of the best time of my life before the war.
I want to travel around the world in the future, but my home is Ukraine and I can’t imagine my life wherever else.
Sofia Kolisnyk:
When I talk to people from abroad and probably the most common question is “Why you didn’t leave your country?”.
I never thought to leave my motherland in a way to live my life in another country, but war forces conclusions and decisions. On the first step, we should think about ourselves and about the people around us. Fortunately, my hometown wasn’t in occupation, thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From the first attack on my town, my mom, our family of friends and I went to another city in western Ukraine where we stayed until it became safer to live in Kyiv.
It would be difficult for me to live abroad alone. I would worry even more about my relatives, knowing that I couldn’t call them at any moment. Another culture is an interesting experience, but you won’t feel comfortable as at home.
So what about feelings? Yes? There are ordinary days when nothing happens and we live our life. But it can be dangerous in air alarm for people who live in usual places. Getting used to such a life makes you lose track of time and your body controls your body moving. As an example, I can say about March 25, 2024, russia attacked the capital of Ukraine with rockets. I woke up and suddenly ran into the bathroom because of the heard explosions and sirens. My body already understands that you need to run for saving your life.
You have to take care of yourself and the people around you. A person can simply freeze, that makes them vulnerable and unable to save themselves. I love my family, my country and that’s why I want to learn and nurture my culture right here in Ukraine. Be human.
Anastasiia Motrych:
At the beginning of the war, it was very scary. Uncertainty, fear, anxiety…
I thought about going abroad for a while. But then I adapted to the new reality and realized that I would not feel as paradoxically calm at home. In other countries, no one is waiting for us, there are no friends, family, acquaintances.
There will need to do it all over again. Equip a home, look for help to adapt. I don’t need that. I feel good at home, here is my place.
Despite the constant danger and air anxiety, here is my home.
I love Kyiv, it’s my hometown. I am ready to protect it from our eternal enemies. I do not consider another option for myself.
Alisa Yunis:
Choosіng to remaіn in a cоuntry experiencіng ongoіng wаr is a cоmplex decisіon influencеd by a multitudе of factors, еach deeply pеrsonal and uniquе to individuаls and familiеs. Whіle it might seеm surprisеd to outsidеrs, sevеral reasоns undеrpin this chоice.
Fіrstly, many individuаls may lаck the resоurces or mеans to leаve thеir cоuntry. Escаping cоnflict zоnes often rеquires signіficant financіal resourcеs, accеss to propеr documentatiоn, and viablе means of transpоrtation. For numerоus peoplе livіng in war-tоrn regiоns, these prerеquisites are sіmply unattainablе, leavіng them wіth no optiоn but to stаy.
Secоndly, attachmеnt to one’s hоmeland runs dеep. Genеrations of familіes may have livеd in the samе area for centurіes, creatіng a profоund sensе of belоnging and identіty. Leavіng behіnd their homеs, cоmmunities, and culturаl heritagе can causе feеlings of profоund lоss and displacеment, lеading individuаls to endurе the dangеrs of war rathеr than abаndon thеir rоots.
Moreоver, for sоme, leavіng is not a viаble solutіon to the problеm at hаnd. They mаy feеl compellеd to stаy and fіght for theіr rіghts, freedоms, and the safеty of thеir lovеd onеs. Whethеr thrоugh activіsm, humanіtarian wоrk, or joinіng resistancе movemеnts, these individuаls believе they hаve a respоnsibility to confrоnt injusticе and wоrk towаrds peаce and stabilіty in theіr homelаnd.
All in all, it’s essеntial to recоgnize that the decisіon to stаy in a wаr-tоrn cоuntry is deеply personаl and subjеctive. Whilе somе may choоse to leavе for their safеty, othеrs may fіnd reasоns to stаy despitе the rіsks. Ultimаtely, understandіng and empаthy are crucіal in comprehending the complеxities of such decisiоns and suppоrting individuаls facіng thesе challengіng circumstancеs.
Alina Nazar:
Despite the difficult political situation in Ukraine, I choose to stay here. Although last year I had the experience of travelling abroad. I went to the UK for 3 months, but I came back. I knew right away that I would not stay there forever. Indeed, I must admit that it was quite an interesting experience to try to live in another country with completely different values, people and lifestyle. But still, why did I come back? Unfortunately, I felt like a stranger there. There, you just feel like a tourist or a refugee. Of course, people asked me why I didn’t want to stay there, since there was a war in Ukraine and it was dangerous, but I assured them that I felt free at home.
When I showed the British the horrific consequences of the war, they were shocked at how people live like that. It was impossible for them to imagine why we wanted to return to our homeland. They convinced me that I could make a better and safer life for myself and my family there. But I still decided to return home to Ukraine.
Despite the fact that my country is at war, I continue to get my education here, try to work for the good of my country, volunteer and donate. I believe that here I can do much more to win and create a better future for myself. Therefore, no matter how difficult the circumstances are, I always want to go home. Because everywhere is good, but home is the best!
Iryna Volohovych:
I stayed in Ukraine because I don’t see my life abroad now. My family and friends are in Ukraine. My favourite streets are in Kyiv. Some people think that living abroad is an incredible life, but many of my friends who left Ukraine after February 24 want to return to their homeland. When I was in Turkey, Odesa, Kherson for a week, I wanted to get back to Kyiv as soon as possible. I like to travel, but migration is a decision that you have to think about meticulously. I don’t adapt quickly to new changes, so if I went abroad, I would go crazy. I love Kyiv’s food, cinemas, parks, and atmosphere. It’s often scary to wake up to explosions, but after watching the movie “20 Days in Mariupol”, I realized that, fortunately, I didn’t see a real war at all.
So, no matter how scary it is sometimes, I won’t be able to leave Ukraine, because it’s the only place where I feel comfortable and cosy.
Oleksii Bondar:
I would say that there are several main reasons why I am staying in Ukraine currently. First of all, when the war started, I was already 18 years old, which means that I was physically not able to cross the border. Yet, I believe that Ukraine is not that bad as it is stated by certain group of society. Ukraine is still a European country, with good banking and bureaucratic systems. Thus, as I believe, it is definitely possible to be prosperous in Ukraine, so I really want to build a career here exactly.
Futhermore, I have not suffered from the war severely. I have my flat, house and car. My family is also making progress in their career, so the life of my family improved in general. The only problem which is actually extremely annoying to me is the fact that I have to study online, because for me, it is quite boring comparing to the normal way of studying. Those two weeks when we were able to study offline was such a great time in my life, that I still remember my teachers and friends, who I met during this period. We were studying in the historical building, with smile and laugh, just as I wanted during my admission to university.
For the conclusion, I would say that even if I had an opportunity to leave Ukraine, I probably would have stayed still because, as I believe, every country has its advantages and disadvantages, and in Ukraine, I still feel myself happy and satisfied in general. So, as I think, after the end of the war, Ukraine would be a perfect country for me to build a career and create my family.
