In Mariupol, Oksana's friend died, she was found in the basement with a German cross burnt out.

On April 15, 2022, her mother-in-law Vira Repetska died.

Together with her daughter, Oksana lived in Kalmius district, near the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works. She worked as a school storekeeper. So in the first days of the invasion, she went to the school and opened a shelter. The wounded began to arrive.

"They were bombing the neighbourhood. It came closer and closer. The first victims. A shell hit our neighbours' window. A young family was killed in a neighbouring house, others were injured.

My daughter asked me to take the violin out of the burning house. I also took the hamster, food, and supplies. The last time I ran upstairs, wet a piece of cloth and bandaged my head, and took out half a bag of potatoes," recalls Mariupol resident Oksana Repetska.