Before dawn, Oksana heard the first explosions in Vasylkiv. Not knowing what to do, she just ran out into the street, and then on the same day, together with her family, she left for the village, where it seemed safer. But there was no quiet anywhere – shelling and sabotage and subversive reconnaissance groups were still landing in Vasylkivskyi district.

Work helped to restore the usual rhythm of life – Oksana works as a librarian and recalls that the first visitors came in May. People missed books and cultural leisure, which helped them to switch off from the terrible reality of war for a while. Now Oksana is used to the shelling. She does not lose hope for Ukraine’s victory, because she believes that the darkest night is always before the dawn.