February 24 was a nightmare for him, as for everyone living in Ukraine. He was 43 years old. He has lived in the country’s capital, Kiev, since the day he was born. Victoria Piavka lived happily ever after with her husband and children. Working as a corporate communications manager in a private company, Piavka had an important position in her business life, on the other hand, she had a peaceful family life. But all this has been left overnight. Because, like many Ukrainians, his life was shaken to its foundations. So what happened that night? How did Victoria Piavka feel, and what did she do on February 24, the day the Russians invaded her country?
They talked as soon as the war started
Victoria Piavka said that like many Ukrainians, she began to be vigilant before February 24. “We have begun to hear reports that Russian troops are based on our borders. We would often discuss this issue with our colleagues at work and make predictions about what would happen.Piavka said that no one in his inner circle thought that Russia would really invade Ukraine and that his country would be plunged into a heated war in the 21st century. Piavka relayed a conversation he had with a colleague at the time:
“I asked my colleague what he would do if the Russians really attacked us. He told me, ‘All you have to do is clear, Vika. I will send my family and wife to safety. I will join the army and protect my country.’ . ‘”
During the attack that started immediately after this dialogue Piavkar’s colleague actually sent his family safely, where he joined the army and began defending his country, Ukraine, against Russian troops. Piyavka said that not only her colleagues, but all the men she knew and did not know, had joined the army, while the rest of the women and children had moved to safer areas, and no one at the crossroads had any hesitation.
‘Our lives are divided into two like a knife’
As the war began, Victoria Piavka, like many Ukrainians, was shocked. Although he prepared himself for a possible war, he did not anticipate that this possibility would become a reality in a very short time. Piavka described her feelings as she began bombing Ukrainian cities:
“I was in the middle of a virtual reality. I was worried about the news I was reading and my sleep was often disturbed. My sleep was also disturbed that night. I woke up early in the night and suddenly heard a very strange sound. Came, but it was like the sound of an explosion. “
Pianca, who grabbed her mobile phone in panic, immediately started checking the news sites and realized the veracity of the news she was facing. According to reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin has launched a military operation against his country, Ukraine. He was deeply terrified. Describing the moment, Victoria Piavka said she went back that day and said her heart was pounding so fast it was stuck. “I will never forget it for the rest of my life. Our lives are cut in half as ‘before February 24’ and ‘after February 24’.‘He said.
They go to the west of the country
As the blasts intensified, Victoria Piavka began preparing to leave home with her husband and children. They have decided to travel to the west of the country as soon as possible with important documents and necessary clothing. Their plan was to leave the children with their parents in the west of the country and stay there safely for a few days, then return to Kiev together and start their lives. However, things did not turn out as they had hoped. As the devastation of the war increased, so did their plans. Piavka was in the west of the country with her children until April, when her husband returned to Kiev at the end of February. Many people are now returning to Kiev, Piavka said, adding that they are now relatively safe in the west of the country and she is still not thinking of returning to Kiev with her husband.
‘Our relatives live in Russia …’
Referring to the scene they encountered on the way, Victoria Piavka said she was horrified by what she saw. Piavka said that when they left Kyiv in February, everyone, like them, was preparing to move to western Ukraine.Everyone was devastated. The traffic was incredible. Fear of children sleeping in the car, long queues at the gas station, traffic jams, panic … it felt like we were in a horror movie.‘He said.
Mentioning that she has many relatives in Russia, Victoria Piavka insisted that they only spoke to them in the air before the war, but that communication between them began to change because of the war. Piavka explains why in the following words:
“When my relatives in Russia started texting me, ‘Don’t worry, the Russian army will never kill civilians in Ukraine. Don’t be afraid,’ we ended up contacting them. They were never aware of the terrible situation. We were in Ukraine.” “They believed in Russian propaganda, not Russian propaganda. They believed in the lies they told on Russian television so much that they did not even try to understand the real plight of Ukrainian civilians.”
Victoria Piavka, who said that many people living in Russia do not believe what Ukrainians say and it is very sad, said that the person who was most offended by her was Victoria Piavka. Godmother Said that. Piavka, “My godmother has been living in Russia for a long time. When the war broke out, he did not text me or call me.Said
The biggest request from Ukrainians at this time … ‘
Mentioning that he is proud to be Ukrainian and will continue to be proud after this incident, Victoria Piavka said, “Victory will be ours, we believe it wholeheartedly. Because light always loses darkness“Many Ukrainians want to return to their country without living abroad and continue their lives from where they left off,” he said.
“Currently, 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory is occupied. The greatest desire of the people of Ukraine at this moment is to return to their country and continue to live in peace. It is not a problem for anyone to migrate abroad using these incidents as an excuse. Ukrainians do not want to lose their homeland and want to continue living in peace as before the war.Piavka recalled that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the country’s leader during the most difficult times. Piavka said, “Those who are defending Ukraine at the moment are all our heroes. Ukraine became independent in 1991, and Vladimir Zelensky has been our leader since then. Of course there are some questions we want to ask him, but not now. We will announce our victory first. After that, of course, we will reveal our questions.‘He said.
