On the morning of February 24, 2022, Oksana Kushnir, a resident of Mariupol, heard explosions. Sirens were blaring. There was constant shelling. There was no food. She and her husband hid in the basement. Air strikes began – civilians were killed.

The couple tried to leave on March 5, but the explosions started. They hid in a sports complex, in a city park. They stayed there for ten days. Every day they went to the Drama Theatre to make phone calls.

On March 15, the explosions were getting closer. They decided to leave. They did not recognise the city. Everything was in ruins.