"They were always together. And they passed away together"

My mother's name was Olha Kurochkina, my father's name was Oleh Borysenko. They lived together for over 30 years. And they passed away together. We are an ordinary, modest family. Parents tried to raise me as best they could.

I talked to my mum on the phone about my exams and when I would be able to get home.  I got a call about 10 minutes later. At first, they didn't say that their parents were dead. They said they needed help – a shell hit them. I started calling my parents, my mother, my father. No one answered the phone. Then they called me back and said they were dead.

I just sat in my room that night. I couldn't even cry. I feel lonely. Still, I feel like I have at least some support from my aunt.

Aunt Olena Kurochkina:

Everything reminds me of the pain. It's very hard. Losing two people at once is very hard. Misha called me in the evening, asking, "Lena, do you know that my parents died?" I said, "Misha, this must be a mistake. I'll go and see." That is how it turned out.

She worked at REN (regional electricity network) as the controller. She walked around the old Avdiivka. She got under  attacks constantly! She always came off with a whole skin. And then… I can't find the words. It was just awful.

My mother is a war child. She told me that my hair stood on end. I never would have thought I would experience something like this. All this whistling, when everything collapses, when the glass breaks down. It's such a horror. It is just unspeakable. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy

My house had no windows and no glass. The wallpaper in the kitchen has been torn off. We were just going out into the corridor. I covered my son with my body. I never would have thought that we would experience all this.

Olena:

I pray to God that my health does not fail me, because I have two sons: my Danik and Misha. My nephew is like a son to me now. We will try to live on. We must live.

I really want Olia and Oleh saw from heaven when Misha has his own family. He will have a good wife. He will have children. Misha will be fine.

I surely would like the war to end quickly. I wish they would negotiate and settle things. I wish they heard the poor people of Donbass. I just wish they would finally hear us and get it over with all this mess quickly. So many children had to die. So many.

Mykhailo:

I will move on and become something they would be proud of. I live for this now. I am grateful that Rinat Akhmetov gave me an apartment and helped me financially. I am grateful indeed. I am grateful for helping to bury my parents.

Olena:

I am very grateful to Rinat Akhmetov for helping us and not leaving us in trouble. I am very grateful to him. I bow down before him. God bless him. He also helps us buy medications. He helps with surgeries. I am very grateful for everything.