On February 24, Valentyna was getting ready for work when she heard explosions and gunshots. She realised that war had broken out. There were already battles in the village: Russian troops entered on March 5, surrounding the village with tanks and armoured personnel carriers. The very next day, her son was killed by shelling. Valentyna found out about it later, as the occupiers had taken away the locals' phones. Only a few days later she found out the terrible news. The neighbours buried her son in the yard, fearing more shelling. Later, when it became a little safer, they reburied him.