At the beginning of the war, Liubov Savina hid in a cellar with her family and neighbours. In March 2022, the village of Yasnohorodka, Kyiv region, came under shelling. “We used to curtain the windows to block out the light,” she says. In search of safety, the family moved to neighbouring Byshev, but the russians launched an air strike on that village, so the Savins returned home. A few days later, a Grad fell 20 metres from Liubov’s house, and they left again. Liubov returned home on April 1, and fortunately, her house was intact. 

Liubov has always loved to sing. Her parents were known as talented folk singers, and their love of song was passed on to Liubov.  “I am happy when I sing Ukrainian songs. There are songs for all occasions,” she says. For many years now, Liubov has been singing in the Yasen-tsvit amateur folklore ensemble.