Vira Yushchenko, a resident of Moshchun village, woke up to a call from a colleague who told her about the russian invasion. At first, Vira went to work, unaware that the buses were no longer running. After her daughter took her home, the shelling started, and the family was forced to hide in the basement.

When the situation escalated further, Vira’s son-in-law advised to pack for evacuation. At night, the family set off on a journey to the west of the country that lasted three days. 

Later, Vira found out that their village had been severely damaged. All of the family’s homes were destroyed and their property was lost. However, she remained grateful that she, her children and grandchildren survived. Unfortunately, the family did not avoid losses. At the time of the interview, Vira’s mother-in-law, Olha Yushchenko, who was 87 years old, was on the list of “missing persons”.

After the de-occupation of the region, Vira returned to Moshchun and settled.... in a shed. Despite the difficulties, she continues to keep the community spirit alive through singing, believing that Ukrainian songs give strength and energy in these difficult times.