During the full-scale invasion, Olena was hiding in a psychiatric hospital, where she worked as a cook. About 400 other Mariupol residents survived with her.
"Men used to fetch water. They defended it; it was dirty. There was a generator. It was switched on once a day. There were small children, but there was no milk or infant formula. It was hard. There were a lot of us and patients, too. There were two nurses per ward.
In the morning, we started a fire, two pots of 50 litres each. We also made a few spoons of Mivina for 8 wards and the staff. The dishes were not washed because there was no water. When a shell hit the tuberculosis clinic, I got a contusion.
We were cooking. The shelling started. Sometimes, we could not even distribute the food. Former patients came with knives and wanted to eat. We did not refuse anyone," said Olena, a Mariupol resident.
