Diana Nahorianska saw the war at the age of 16, in Mariupol. Together with her mother, stepfather, two younger sisters and brother, she lived through terrible moments that changed their lives forever. At the time, Diana’s mother was pregnant, which added to the anxiety.

The family lived on the left bank of Mariupol, but later moved to the city centre. There were about a hundred people in the basement where they were hiding. Diana recalls how difficult it was to survive a week of hunger when tanks were in the yard and it was life-threatening to go outside.

When the situation became critical, the family decided to evacuate. However, the first attempt to leave was disrupted by shelling. After a long ordeal, the family, thanks to volunteers, was able to move to Poland, where Diana’s mother gave birth to another son. Diana is building her new life in Lviv. She is studying at a medical college and wants to become a paramedic. In her interview, she also recalls her losses. Diana’s best friend and her family died in Mariupol.