This is my homeland. I was born here, although before the war I lived in Horlivka. The war prompted me to return to my parents' house. Yet, I was here even before the war. I was taking care of my mother for about eight years. My mother was an elderly person. She was 90 years old. My father died and so she needed my care. I was always here near my parents. I have a piece of land here and my bee farm is here too.
In addition to my writing talent, which God gives me, I have been giving classes for almost 15 years. These are spiritual classes, not religious, but spiritual ones. I call them differently: lessons of love and kindness or love, harmony and life. These are classes among children, in secondary schools. These are secondary or even higher educational institutions. Children ask me questions and I reveal a secret to them. I tell them: ‘Children, after this meeting you will be able to write as good as I do or maybe even better.’ And the answer is one – you must love, love this land, this nature, love Ukraine, love people as our neighbours, all people, and God will return you a hundredfold, will give you inspiration to write.
I measure my life by the lives of all citizens of Ukraine, and in particular inhabitants of eastern Ukraine, my compatriots. Their lives have definitely changed, so mine has changed too. If not for the war, there would be paradise here.
Shells or mines reached here. And after the first two explosions, a shell fragment damaged the fence. We realized that we had to protect the windows. We took some safety measures. We simply bricked these windows up.
Uncle Mykola once came up here on his motorcycle and we were talking outdoors. And there were two explosions right behind these trees. We were thrown down to the ground by a blast wave and shell fragments were landing right near us. Yet, God had mercy. We survived.
My mother lived with my dad here at my parents' house. When my father died, I started paying more attention to my mother. I was taking care of my mother. Now I live with my wife, Lyubov Osypivna.
We saw the shelling. What was the worst? It was people's misunderstanding of all the events that are happening in Ukraine now. This is the worst thing for me personally. It was necessary to flee the war. Half of the population don't have a job, don't have where to work and cannot earn any money. Even if they still have strength to work, they can't. And why can't they work? Because of the ongoing war. All local enterprises are either closed or barely operate. And especially if it is a frontline zone, it is very difficult to find any job.
This term "grey zone" frightens me. There are military actions here, but not as active. You can still live here. Food is delivered here. If only the frontline was further away and if only the war ended completely. That would be the best. God willing, it ends as soon as possible.
What can I compare my native steppe with?
Only with the boundless and rich sea.
The hills are waves, and the grey mounds are
The islands among the waves of the ocean.
