While two villages, Staryi and Novyi Bykov were occupied, the Russian military carried out a mass execution of men. Valentyna’s godson, 29-year-old Bohdan Hladkykh, was among them. Valentyna herself lived in the occupied village for almost a month. She recalls how the Russians prohibited the locals from moving around the village, threatening to kill everyone who disobeys them. They looted houses and stole things. Valentyna did everything to protect her family. One of her daughters was expecting at that time.