Kateryna Savenko’s Diary

A testimony by a resident of Mariupol, written during the Russian siege of the city

Kateryna Savenko kept this diary in Mariupol in the spring of 2022. Across 34 entries, the voice remains of a person who saw the city lose connection, electricity, safety, loved ones – and who still tried to hold on to life, memory, and love for her home.

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Who Kateryna Was

Kateryna Savenko was born and lived in Mariupol. She studied art, worked at the Illich Iron and Steel Works, drew a lot, and dreamed of dedicating her life to art.

Mariupol was her home, a city of people, streets, light, work, memories, and the future. In her diary, she called it her "beloved blooming city."

When Mariupol came under Russian siege, Kateryna began writing things down – air raid alerts, the search for food and water, fear for her loved ones, news of those killed, conversations with people, hope for connection, and silence.

Kateryna remained in contact with her sister until March 5, 2022. In the spring, she and her husband, Vitalii, were buried at the Staryi Krym cemetery in Mariupol.

About the Book

"Kateryna Savenko’s Diary" is a collection of personal notes written by a woman who lived in besieged Mariupol in the spring of 2022.

In this edition, the diary is presented together with the historical context of those weeks. Day by day, the reader sees not only Kateryna’s private experience, but also the circumstances in which it was recorded: the siege of the city, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the loss of communication, and the danger faced by those who remained inside.

The book includes forewords by human rights defender Oleksandra Matviichuk and public figure Anton Drobovych, historical commentary by Yevhen Monastyrskyi, and illustrations by Honored Artist of Ukraine Anton Logov.

This edition is part of the "Diaries of War" collection of the Museum of Civilian Voices by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

Forewords

Oleksandra Matviichuk
Anton Drobovych
Historical Commentary

Yevhen Monastyrskyi
Illustrations

Anton Logov
Diary Author

Kateryna Savenko

Kateryna’s Voice

"We will certainly see each other when the war is over, and we will rejoice in the simplest things: silence, the sun, birdsong, the smiles of loved ones..."

"...Find the diary and tell the whole world what happened in Mariupol."

"Моє кохане квітуче місто! Гарне, сучасне, з дивовижним морем, рослинами і тваринами, міцною інфраструктурою та гарними доброзичливими людьми."

"Я не втомлююся вірити, що всі ми виживемо заради того, щоб нащадки дізналися, що насправді коїлося в Україні 2022 року."

"I believe, and you believe too, otherwise we cannot go on."

Who Preserved This Story

The Museum of Civilian Voices by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation collects and preserves civilian testimonies about Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The Museum’s collection contains the stories of those who survived and those who can no longer be asked. "Kateryna Savenko’s Diary" was given by her family and preserved as part of this work of memory.

The edition was prepared by the IPIO Agency publishing house with the support of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation and Metinvest Group.