Mykola Ustyntsev worked at the Kherson airfield near the village of Chornobaivka. He witnessed the invasion of russian troops. He saw how, within a few hours, the occupiers seized the terminal complex, began destroying infrastructure, and stealing equipment.

For eight months, Mykola and his family lived under occupation —  a time filled with fear and tension. Russian soldiers patrolled the streets, and FSB officers carried out searches and arrests among the local population. Mykola recalls how, at any time of day or night, one could hear a knock at the door and see neighbors taken away to an unknown destination.

After the liberation of Kherson in November 2022, Mykola and his family were forced to leave the city due to continued russian shelling.