Daughter Valentyna Korzun:
Our village used to flourish and enjoy life. Everyone walked with their heads held high. There were jobs. We had kindergartens and nurseries, even those that worked around the clock. We had so many kids here! The school worked in two shifts. We had a public bath house, a sewing workshop and dry cleaning. We had everything, including a good cafe.
And now we have a dying village. Only retirees stay here. And young people have nowhere to leave. Who is waiting for us and where? To leave your own home and go somewhere to suffer?
If back then someone told us, God forbid, that the war would break out, brother would be going against brother. Who needs it? We lived, worked, had fun and enjoyed life. And now in old age there is little health and there is no peace.
This has a strong effect on the nervous system. You get nervous and start shaking. Our grandmother is in tears. She cries because she went through the war. She experienced all this bombing and shelling first-hand. The grandfather sits and squints. What to do?
He survived a stroke. If there is some minor reason, he begins to cry. His speaking ability is not really good. He worked at Belaz for 40 years. He has so many awards! Then he retired and worked as a locksmith at school for 10 years. But then he had a stroke, and after a while another stroke. Now he can't walk, he can't get dressed himself, and he can't shave.
We want peace, the most important thing is peace and calmness. We want that our children have jobs, so that they do not suffer, do not grieve. Now even the quarry is closed down. They are already 48 years old. Where will they look for a job?
Mother, Pelageya Palkina, 94 years old:
It is very hard, very hard. When they shell, I am very affected because I experienced it in the past first-hand. We worked in the hospital during that war. We went and collected the sick. There were wounded lying on the field. We washed the clothes and looked after them.
What happened to me on Victory Day on 8 May before the end of the war? It was just reported: peace was declared. I was wounded at 11 o'clock on 8 May. And on 9 May it was Victory day.
I worked here before the war and during the war as a tractor driver, for 10 years. But then I was taken to Germany. I came back from there and worked as a milkmaid for 26 years. Was that war the same as this one now?
I want to wish us peace. Peace. And if there is peace, then there is health, work and happiness. But now I go out and see that people are not the same. Everyone is so upset and unhappy. What happiness can there be when they shell upon our heads?
