At the Kherson checkpoint, Natalia knelt, pleading not to separate her newborn son due to the absence of a Russian birth certificate. Despite having one with a Russian seal, a soldier with an automatic weapon aimed to take little Ivan. Eventually, Natalia was allowed to return home, but on the next occasion, leaving after a medical check-up, the same soldier hindered the family from exiting the city. Consequently, Natalia had to obtain a Russian birth certificate for her son.

Surviving in the occupied Kherson region with their three children, the Spiryugov family encountered incredible difficulties. Food and essentials vanished from local stores early in the Russian invasion. Natalia recalls the heart-wrenching moments when her younger children cried for food. While seeking provisions in a nearby city, her husband narrowly escaped severe injury during an artillery bombardment. A shell landed close to him, miraculously sparing his life.

With no heating, clean water, and hygiene supplies, the youngest, Vika and Ivan, frequently fell ill and suffered from diaper rash. The challenges were also immense for 15-year-old Anastasia, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. However, the most psychologically traumatic experiences for the children were the constant shelling after the de-occupation of Kherson. During these moments, 3-year-old Vika would instinctively run to her bed, covering herself with a blanket and a large pillow. Despite the danger, the family hoped for a peaceful life, but their hope was shattered when a shell hit their home in September, compelling them to flee to Odessa.

In Odessa, thanks to the local volunteers, the family found temporary shelter for three months. Living in a single room with shared facilities proved challenging for the large family, and there were days when they had to sleep in the corridor due to the influx of refugees. The only solace for the eldest daughter, Anastasia, was the opportunity to enroll in a music academy in Odessa. Despite winning a singing competition in Kherson, she couldn’t pursue her dream due to uncomfortable living conditions and frequent bombings. In search of a safer refuge, the family submitted an application on the Save Ukraine website for housing through the Fort Home program.

Soon, they were contacted and invited to Irpin, where a new home awaited them. When 15-year-old Anastasia entered the modular house, she cried tears of joy. Her first question was, ‘Mom, is this a separate shower?’ She couldn’t believe they would live there as a family. In her excitement, Anastasia sang her original song, written in her hometown of Kherson. This time, her mother shed tears not only of sadness but also of happiness.