Васіліса С. (Vasilisa S, 11 years, Kharkiv)
I am Vasilisa from Kharkiv. I am 11 years old. I enjoy gymnastics and acrobatics on a trampoline. On February 24th at 5 am I was woken up by loud explosions. Outside my window I could see fire. I got very frightened and started to cry. My family had to leave our house on the 9th day of the war when the explosions got louder and louder and the planes were flying over our home. It was scary… When the war is over, I would like to come home, see my relatives and friends, hug them all. I hope no human being on this planet must live through a war.
Ольга О. (Olya O, 8 years, Cherkasy)
My Ukraine is a picturesque country full of flowers. 24.02.2022 at six in the morning I woke up and was getting ready for school when mom told me terrible news about the start of the war in Ukraine ... My life has changed so much: air raids have begun; I am spending a lot of time in a bomb shelter. It is especially difficult during the sleepless nights in the shelter… I dream that the war will end soon, and we will be able to return to our everyday life and Ukrainians will be able to smile again. The first thing I will do when the war is over is give hugs to my loved ones. I want to thank you for supporting Ukraine during this difficult time.
Юлія О. (Yulia O, 10 years, Kharkiv)
My name is Yulia. I am 10 years old. Making art is my hobby, I like sports (triathlon and ballroom dancing). I am learning acting skill and above all I love studying. I love my country with its beautiful landscapes, beautiful hospitable people. I want peace in Ukraine. On the morning of February 24, 2022, my parents shared terrible news: Russia attacked my country. My life used to be fun, interesting, and colorful. Now it is scary: full of tears, fear, and air raids. I dream of Ukrainian army kicking the enemy out of Ukraine. The war will end, there will be peace in Ukraine, and I will be able to do things I like again. The first thing I will do when the war ends, is hug my parents. I would like to wish you all -peace and clear skies above your head because peace is the most important thing in the world.
Софійка П. (Sophyika P, 10 years, Sumy)
Before the war we lived in the city of Sumy. I love to draw; I enjoy dancing and figure skating. The picture I drew is dedicated to my homeland Ukraine, to peace and the steadfastness of the Ukrainian people. On February 24th, my mom woke me up early in the morning and told me the war has begun. I got dressed very quickly. Before we left the house, I took my favorite toy. I felt very scared. I did not want to leave my relatives and my home. Now my mom and I live far from our family. Every day I dream of this war ending and us returning home. Complete strangers are sharing their place with us now. They are very kind and caring people. We are very grateful to them. When the war is over, I will come home, I will hug my relatives and I will help parents to rebuild our Ukraine. I want to tell all the people on this planet: "Save the world!!!! We don't want this war!!! We want peace; we want to live in harmony and friendship with all the people of the world!”
Анна П. (Anna P, 8 years, Cherkasy)
My name is Anna, I like to play with my dolls and dance. On the morning of February 24, my grandmother called to warn us that russia attacked us. I want so much for this war to end. I want to be able to freely walk down the street. I want to come home. I want for my dad to be home with us. My life is not the same anymore: even though we are currently in Ukraine, we are not living in our house. But it is not as bad here as in other areas of Ukraine. Thank you everyone.
Владислава П. (Vladislav P, 8 years, Cherkasy)
My hobbies are ballroom dancing, drawing, playing the piano. Today my brother is 6 months old, I really want him to be protected from military shelling. My mother told that in the morning to my sisters and their children had to flee Kyiv because of the shelling. I had to travel to Moldova with my mother and brother for a long time, we crossed the border on foot and lived there for 19 days without my father and my grandparents. We chose to return home because we missed him very much and did not want to be apart from them. When the war ends, I want to go for a very long walk in the park with my parents and brother, just like we did before the war, and not be scared of anything. I want to tell everyone to cherish every moment of your peaceful life.
Катерина С. (Kateryna S, 13 years, Cherkasy)
I enjoy singing, reciting poems, playing the piano, and dancing. The picture I drew has no special subtext; I just want everyone to read the words I wrote in the picture. That day my mom woke me up at 8:45am. I looked at the clock and realized something was wrong. When I saw my mother's face and what was shown on TV, I immediately knew the war has begun. Since the start of the war, I began to appreciate every moment. I am now afraid of planes and any noise. I am afraid to fall asleep. I listen carefully to the sounds outside my window because it can be a siren. I am rationing everything. We watch the news all the time. I sleep fully dressed. I dream of being able to go to a different country. I feel uncomfortable when we go to the store because the apocalypse seemed to have begun. I dream of seeing my friend again, who is not in Ukraine now.
Ілля С. (Illya S, 8 years, Donetsk)
Tell us about yourself. My name is Illya, I have a deformation of the chest and increased anxiety due to the fighting in the Donetsk since 2014.
What can you share about your picture? Dove is a symbol of peace over the fertile fields of Ukraine.
How did you find out that the war started? I heard explosions, saw how upset and frightened my mother was. She was crying.
How has the war affected your life and the lives of your family? We lost our house and have not had a home since. We moved far away from my grandmother. I have health problems because of all the stress I endured since infancy.
The first thing you want to do when the war is over? See my grandparents. I want to see the house where I was born.
Your message to other people. I wish for you to live in peace. Appreciate a peaceful sky and the family that loves you. God Bless.
Даша С. (Dasha S, 11 years, Cherkasy)
My name is Dasha. I am 11 years old. I like listening to music, drawing, taking vocal lessons, editing videos and sharing them on TikTok. I draw sunflowers for you. It took me 2 days to draw this. Red and black sunflowers are for people that died and for those who lost everything. A yellow sunflower symbolizes freedom and peace in my Ukraine. The day the war started I was asleep. As always, my mom was trying to wake me up for school (that is what I thought when she was waking me up that day). But she was saying “Get up! The war has begun!”. “What happened, mom?” I asked her again. “There is a loud sound coming from outside!” she replied. Then I heard an explosion. On February 24th we left Cherkasy. My dad and out cats stayed in Ukraine. He is always on duty and is almost never home. My mom is always tired. My brother and I started to argue a lot. I seem to never be able to get enough sleep. I really want to come home to my kitties and everyone I love. I also want to spit in Putin’s face and faces of those who support him. I have hope that you all are doing well. I would like to thank all of you for helping my motherland. Slava Ukraiini! (I am sorry if I made any mistakes).
Богдан С. (Bogdan S, 15 years, Chernihiv)
My hobbies are drawing and watching tv shows in English. I draw a Ukrainian girl – she is bringing warmth and peace to all the people. I was woken up to sirens and explosions when the war started. My family had to leave everything behind. I dream of coming back and finding my dog. Enjoy the life you have and live in peace.
Роман С. (Roman S, 15 years, Chernihiv)
I like to draw in my personal style which is close to realism. I draw a beautiful Ukrainian girl walking across the field and dreaming about the future of Ukraine.
Міла С. (Mile S, 6 years, Kharkiv)
I am Mila from Kharkiv. I am 6 years old. My hobby is acrobatics on trampoline. On the 24th of February Mila woke up at 5 am from loud explosions. Her family had to leave home to save their lives. Mila misses her friends and dreams of going back to her kindergarten.
Ольга С. (Olga S, 13 years, Cherkasy)
What are your hobbies? I compete in gymnastics and enjoy modern dancing. I also like drawing and all forms of art. - Describe what you draw. My drawing shows a fight between the Good of the World with a brood of Evil. The war that Russia started on the Ukrainian land is impossible to comprehend for any normal person. The person that decided to destroy a peaceful country is insane. Our Ukrainian defenders are not only protecting our freedom and independence but also are cleaning the world from the evil like archangels! - How did you find out that the war started? I found out about the war from my parents the morning of February 24th. I was half asleep when I heard my dad’s reassuring voice: he was calmly talking to my mom, telling her that our family will always be together, and he will protect us and will never let anyone hurt us. My younger brother and I were frightened but our parents assured us that everything will pass, and our army is stronger than the enemy. - How did the war impact your everyday life? My life changed significantly. Now I spend most of my time inside, getting ready for distance learning, drawing, reading books and talking to friends online. I go outside for short periods of time. Hiding in the bomb shelter a couple of times per day and spending hours there- have become my new reality. I miss an active lifestyle and day to day communication with my peers. Previously, I spent a lot of time training, traveling abroad, competing in sporting events, and going to the Ukrainian seaside. Today I live in constant fear, I worry about my safety and the safety of people I love. - What is the first thing you want to do when the war is over? The first thing I would do when the war is over - is thank all the Ukrainian defenders for their courage and bravery. I would immediately start gymnastics trainings and work on setting new goals so I can reach higher professional rating in sports. I would like to represent Ukraine in international sports competitions someday. - What is your message to people in other countries? My beautiful country Ukraine is going through terrible times. Nothing in this world is more frightening than the war. Every time I hear an air siren going off in my city, I picture cities that were destroyed by this war, innocent dead civilians, scared to death children and sea of blood, pain, and grief. Ukrainians are a strong nation with rich culture, old traditions, and invincible spirit! We are a nation of free people, a nation that will never be defeated and enslaved! Very soon we will celebrate a victory over this cruel enemy and then again Ukraine will be in bloom, the birds will be singing, and the waters of Dnipro will flow peacefully. The sunflowers will bloom as a symbol of life and prosperity.
Марія Т. (Maria T, 16 years, Cherkasy)
My hobbies are gymnastics; when I have free time I love to draw. The pictures that I draw: “All that drowns us, makes us fly ". Ukraine will never again be the same as before. All of us are now united and so much stronger. We will rebuild our country and Ukrainians will be known around the world as brave, unbreakable, and courageous people. “Beginning of something new, beautiful, and strong”. “Hard times will always reveal true friends”. Ukraine will never its real friends – countries that are helping us with everything they can. I found out about the war from the news when I woke up and was getting ready to go to school. When the war started, I was panicking like everyone else, however these days I am trying to live my life and pretend it is as normal as it can be. When the war is over, I would like to start traveling around Ukraine - our country has so many magical places I’d like to see. To everyone who is reading this: enjoy every minute of your life, do not waste time, and appreciate people that are next to you.
Діана Т. (Diana T, 10 years, Cherkasy)
I am from Cherkasy. My city is in the heart of Ukraine. I love drawing, horse back riding, caring for animals (I have a cat Bella and a guinea pig Richarda). I also enjoy arts and crafts: I make small toys by myself. When the WAR started, I was peacefully asleep in MY warm BED, but my world got turned inside out when my mom came into my room that day. Her eyes were full of tears. She reached for me and said: “Diana, wake up, get dressed quickly, our country got attacked. The war has started in Ukraine”. I am not living in my own home now. I live in a foreign country with strangers. My mom was scared for my life -so she drove me away while my dad, Bella and Richarda stayed behind. This is breaking my heart and I cry a lot in the evenings. I miss them deeply. I do not know what will happen to me next and sometimes think I do not have a future at all. My mom comforts and encourages me but I feel afraid and sad. I would like to wish all the people and especially children to live in the world with no sirens and air raids. I hope you will never experience war airplanes flying low over your homes. I wish your country to only experience peace and happiness. I believe my Ukraine will win this war one day and I will be able to come home! The first thing I will do is hug my dad, my cat and my guinea pig for a very long time!!! I know that people in your country are helping Ukraine and I am sincerely grateful for that.
Аліса Ш. (Alisa S, 7 years, Cherkasy)
- What are your hobbies? Tennis, music, playing the piano - Please share something about the picture that you draw. "Ukraine will win" or "I wish you a peaceful sky ". - How did you find out that the war started? From my parents. -The first thing you want to do when the war ends? -I will thank God. - Your message to the people of California. I wish you to always have Peaceful skies overhead and to never experience the war!
Софія Щ. (Sofia, 15 years, Kyiv)
I like to read. I play the guitar. I draw. I study programming. My drawings are messages to the russian occupiers: “Take these seeds and put them in your pockets, so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here”. “Even animals are feeling the sadness”. “Monsters are not real but some humans are…” I was woken up on February 24th by the sound of explosions, a little later I learned that this was our air defense shooting down a rocket over Boryspil. The war forced us to run away from home to a safer place. My Father and Mother lost their jobs. It has not been easy ... When the war is over, I want to visit Hero Cities of Ukraine: Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol, Kherson, Hostomel and Volnovakha.
Марія Щ. (Maria, 12 years, Cherkasy)
I dream of a peaceful future for Ukraine. In the morning, my mother did not wake me up to go to school, and then said that the war had begun. This was February 24th, 2022. My life changed completely, my mother, my brother and I temporarily moved to another country. My father had to stay at home. I miss him very much. I miss my home. I miss my friends. I miss drawing lessons. When the war is over, I dream of inviting a friend over and talking to her to my heart's content. I wish everyone to appreciate what they have. Above all I wish you peace!
