Living History: The Civilian Experience of the Ukraine War
Using an interview with a Ukrainian woman who lived in Kyiv during the Russian invasion, this essay highlights the struggles that Ukrainian people experienced during their time of war
The Russo-Ukrainian War has been covered in the news for years. We’ve seen countless photos and videos that show the atrocities of war - but I wanted to hear about this experience from a Ukrainian civilian who actually lived through it. To do this, I interviewed a Ukrainian woman whose name will be kept anonymous due to security concerns:
“I am 30 years old and Ukrainian. I grew up in Ukraine and currently live in the western part of the country. Previously, I lived in Kyiv and other regions, including central Ukraine. The war began in 2014. In Ukraine, we acknowledge that the invasion began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea.
In 2014, I was in college when Russia invaded. Before that, we had the Revolution of Dignity, which took place from November 2013 to February 2014. This revolution began because the then-president Yanukovych, influenced by Russia, refused to sign an important trade agreement with the European Union. This led to massive protests that eventually resulted in the overthrow of Yanukovych. Shortly after, in March 2014, Russia invaded Crimea, and conflict began in eastern Ukraine.
During the protests in Kyiv, things became dangerous. The government set up snipers to shoot at protesters. This period felt like a nonstop cycle of unrest and transition. Many Ukrainians, including myself, did not fully comprehend the gravity of the situation until later.
The war in 2014 was mainly confined to eastern Ukraine, unlike the full-scale invasion in 2022, which affected the entire country. By 2016-2018, many Ukrainians had become accustomed to the ongoing conflict, even though there was still hope for a resolution. The Ukrainian government took a clear pro-European stance, passing laws and policies aligned with European standards (versus Russian interests).
In 2021, the situation escalated as Russian troops began gathering near the Ukrainian border. Despite warnings from international partners, the Ukrainian government reassured the public, aiming to prevent panic. Many Ukrainians, including myself, did not believe a full-scale invasion was possible. I remember once, I was talking to my friend on the phone. He believed that the Russians would invade, and I was saying that a full-scale Russian invasion was not possible. It could never happen. I was very wrong. Everything really felt like it happened so quickly.
On February 24, 2022, I was living in Kyiv. I woke up to messages from colleagues and the sound of distant explosions. I was sitting in my room when I heard the explosions, but I didn’t know where they were or how far away they were. I didn’t want to believe that it was real. My friend and her eight-month-old daughter were staying with me. We quickly packed our essentials and tried to stay calm. We were told that we had to have a go-bag at all times. The situation in Kyiv rapidly deteriorated, and we spent nights in a school basement used as a bomb shelter. Some people stayed in their apartments, and they put tape on their windows so that the windows didn’t shatter if there was a shockwave.
There was chaos on the streets. Everyone was going to the ATM to get their money out. They rushed across the streets to get food and household items as well. It was so crazy. I went out to go buy food for my dog, but the prices had gone all the way up. It was also really difficult to get gas, as you can imagine. This all happened in the week of February 24, when the full-scale war broke out. Later that week, I tried to call a cab, but if you wanted to call a cab, you had to do it 24 hours in advance. When I tried to do this, the cab never even came. It was a mess.
There were some bomb shelters there, but they weren’t good at first. A bomb shelter is supposed to have two exits, but the one near us only had one. It also had terrible ventilation, etc. My friend refused to take her baby into the shelter, because she thought she wouldn’t do well there.
Most transportation was not running well, but the trains were still going. Many people used the trains to escape.
Eventually, my friend decided to leave, and after a week, she managed to evacuate with her daughter. I stayed behind with my dog, but a few days later, I also evacuated to western Ukraine because I had connections to the transportation company. The journey took 22 hours, and I have been in western Ukraine since.
Since then, I've been back to Kyiv, but I haven't moved back permanently. Although our offices are in Kyiv, we can work remotely. I've considered moving back a few times, but my dog, who is a rescue, gets very scared. Explosions would be terrifying for her. Right now, there aren't Russian troops beyond the front lines, primarily in eastern and southern Ukraine. Occasionally, they cross the border in the northeast, but they mostly attack from the sky, targeting critical infrastructure with missiles. This means air alerts are frequent, regardless of where you are in Ukraine. They attack our electrical grids and our water supply, etc. During the beginning of the war, this shocked me. I knew the Russians were invading, but they began to act like animals. I thought this kind of war, (targeting civilian areas), was not possible anymore. I was wrong about this. Even here in western Ukraine, we’ve had some recent attacks. Initially, I thought this area was much safer, but now I'm not so sure.
In the first six months of the full-scale invasion, I was in complete denial, hoping the situation wouldn’t escalate. Now, over two years later, it's clear that this conflict won't end soon or easily. Research centers have surveyed Ukrainians on what victory looks like for them, often pointing to the 1991 borders when Ukraine gained independence. Despite this, about 20% of Ukrainian territory is currently occupied.
I was discussing with a friend how the war affects every aspect of our lives. It's difficult to plan for the future because everything is so uncertain. I admire those who are brave enough to get married, buy houses, or have children during this time. I could never do that, I am too scared. For the first six or seven months, military experts made various predictions about the war, including threats of nuclear weapons and attacks on critical infrastructure like the power grid.
In October 2022, these attacks on infrastructure began, leading to frequent blackouts throughout the winter of 2022-2023. Streets were dark, and people relied on generators and portable power stations. Local governments set up "points of invincibility" where people could charge their devices and warm up. I was fortunate to be on the same power grid as a local post office, so I didn't experience power cuts, but many others did.
Ukrainians have adapted, finding ways to run businesses and maintain daily life despite the challenges. Offices, hospitals, and schools now often have generators. Fundraising campaigns frequently support acquiring generators for these essential services. Employees of international organizations in Ukraine are always encouraged to keep a go-bag ready with a first aid kit and two weeks of food supplies.
Today, war is on everyone’s mind. Any time you have a conversation with a Ukrainian, the topic of war will always come up. It is now a part of our lives.”