The Bondarenko family had a solid two-story house with a basement, providing a quick refuge from shelling, and avoiding surveillance drones. That’s why the entire family became a target for russian soldiers searching for such houses in the village. As the front line approached, the family faced increasing pressure from the occupiers.

Daily visits, manipulations, “offers” to evacuate, and eventually threats: “If you don’t leave your home, we’ll bombard you with grenades.” This ultimatum Marina and Taras had received just before the New Year.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were approaching the village rapidly. The battles continued day and night. The remaining villagers were forbidden from using any transportation, even bicycles, they were forbidden from going outside without documents even out at night within their own yard. Russians threatened to shoot villagers for any disobedience. While people trembled in fear at night in their homes, Putin’s soldiers were stealing goats, chickens, and anything of value. People started disappearing from the village. Russians claimed that unfortunate accidents were becoming more frequent, but the villagers didn’t believe those words.

During shelling, Marina would immediately take her son to bed, covering him with a blanket and holding him tight. She thought she could save him by shielding him with her own body if a shell hit them. Meanwhile, Eldar, jokingly, asked his father to take his mother away, saying she would “strangle” him. Perhaps those jokes were a protective reaction for the boy in such moments.

Eldar was extremely afraid of russian soldiers, especially when they unexpectedly questioned him, and he couldn’t understand their unclear questions. Soldiers noticed his fear, exploited it, and deliberately continued their mockery. Interactions were frequent as russians visited their home whenever they pleased. They sometimes stormed their yard door when Marina locked it out of fear, sometimes demanding food, and often taking away potatoes and bacon. They expressed accusations towards Eldar as if he had lied to them about being only 13 years old. Although the boy was indeed 13, he just looked older.

Once, two soldiers forcibly entered a summer house near the Bondarenkos and occupied it. Just two days later, a shell hit the place. Frightened russians immediately ran to Marina and Taras, conducting a search and accusing them of betraying and delivering to Ukrainian forces their positions. However, it was a baseless accusation since the village had long been without water, electricity, or communication. 

The day arrived when russians issued the final verdict to the Bondarenko family — leave their home in two days. Eldar, with indescribable pain, ascended to his room on the second floor for the last time, sitting there on the floor, barely holding back tears. He wanted to remember the room as it was. He looked at the broken windows, walls damaged by shells, and the furniture. He bid farewell to his childhood; all memories remained in those ruins.

In the morning, the family left their home not knowing where to go or what to do. Unable to use a bicycle, they attached backpacks and bags to it and rolled it along. They cautiously moved through forest paths, passing by mines and corpses. By evening, they reached the nearest town. From there, Marina finally reached by phone call her eldest daughter in Poland. Good people provided them with the contacts of volunteers who helped in escaping from the occupation.

On the way, russians at checkpoints constantly asked why no one in the family had russian documents and why their phone was empty. They were psychologically pressured when it was revealed that they only had Ukrainian passports, and they were threatened with being sent back based on their registration, making them unable to leave. Eventually, the family managed to leave russian territory and establish contact with us.

Within a day, russian soldiers occupied their house, eagerly waiting for this moment. A few days later, the house was hit by a rocket. Half the roof was gone, and windows shattered. But it wasn’t the worst. The worst part was Marina’s ongoing post-traumatic period. She fears any sudden noise on the street, inside, or in a crowd. She’s terrified of anyone in military uniform. Her son, seeing armed soldiers, also asks, “Mom, do you feel this too, or is it just me? What do I do when I see them? It’s horrifying.”

Marina still cries when recalling crossing the Ukrainian border. She remembers the moment when someone offered her a beautiful cat at the border as she had left her pets at home. In the past, they had beautiful memories of peaceful life—fishing, mushroom picking, and spending weekends by the river. They loved going to the cinema, and on New Year’s Eve, they always joined the village’s festive tree illuminated by thousands of lights.

Fortunately, it’s all behind them now. First, the entire family will get some rest. Eldar will finally get his Ukrainian passport since he’s already 14. Then they’ll go to Germany, find work, and earn a new home. Hopefully, if their village is de-occupied, they’ll return and renovate their large house. Otherwise, they’ll seek another place.