Oleksandr is the director of the Memorial Museum-Estate of the famous Ukrainian singer Ivan Kozlovskyi. Like many others, he did not believe that the war would begin until the very last moment. In the first days of the Russian invasion, hundreds of men and women, some who came from Kyiv and some who stayed in the village, organised vigils, collected bottles for Molotov cocktails, set up checkpoints and created protection for every street. The cohesion of the community, their willingness to defend themselves even without weapons, was impressive and empowering. The museum where Oleksandr currently works is of great importance to him. After all, his land is the heritage of generations who shed their blood for freedom here.