On February 24, 2022, Erika woke up to an air raid alert, everyone around her in the dormitory began to panic and look for a way to contact their families. The girl did not immediately realise that it was war, but a few hours later, when shelling began across Ukraine, the situation became clear. Together with her friend, she decided to leave Kyiv. There were a lot of people at the railway station square and problems with transport. Nevertheless, they found a bus in the direction of their hometown. One of the most emotional moments for Erika was saying goodbye to her friend, who recorded a farewell video as the situation was very difficult.