At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Iryna Artemenko could not believe in the reality of the events, even when she heard the explosions. Her rethinking came after a rocket hit a building on Lobanovskoho Street, not far from her home. Iryna quickly joined in to help, organising a bread baking workshop for the Territorial Defence Forces soldiers. Thanks to this activity, she and her neighbours were able to stop thinking about explosions and threats and focus on helping the defenders. During the occupation of Kyiv region, she remained in Kyiv, helping the military and the wounded in hospitals.