“They said the war had started and we had to do something. But we didn’t know what exactly. It was too late to leave. There were huge queues, lots of cars, and russians were shooting at the columns,” says Olena. Staying in the city, her family lived under constant threat. “A lot of tanks, armoured personnel carriers and vehicles were driving around Sumy. There is a military school at the entrance to the city, and they tried to seize it. There were explosions and fights. Our guys fought back as best they could,” says Olena. During this difficult time, their home became a refuge for relatives from neighbouring villages who were also under shelling.