Ksenia Bukshyna is 34. Before the war, she used to be a journalist, researcher and public activist. Currently, Ksenia is in Kyiv. Together with her partner, neighbors and strangers she has launched a humanitarian aid office. Among other things, Ksenia searches for and brings people medicine, food, ammunition and necessities. The HQ helps the territorial defense forces, maternity hospitals, elderly people in Kyiv and on the outskirts, sick children at the OKHMATDYT Ukrainian Specialized Children’s Hospital which has been damaged by a Russian rocket attack, mothers with children, and pregnant women.
“At 9:00 a.m. we open the office to give people the first packages after the end of the curfew. At this time volunteers come together, and the work begins: we receive and unload trucks, deliver food and medicine, accumulate ammunition for men, pack diapers and baby food for mothers throughout Ukraine, watch and listen to the news. And we support each other as best we can.”
Ksenia gets up very early, if she has any rest at all. Making breakfast and taking a shower is almost the only thing left of her past peaceful life. Then she checks the messengers.
“I feel mostly fury and despair. I am engaged in work 24/7 so as not to fall into an emotional pit. And no matter how strange it sounds, I try to enjoy every moment: having a cup of coffee, getting the message ‘we are alive,’ sending another package. We are facing a terrible and difficult time. But we have to live through it with dignity,” says Ksenia.
Ksenia has two children who have been taken abroad by Ksenia’s ex-husband on the first day of the war. Ksenia is happy that her children are safe and adds: “It makes me feel some inner peace.”
“I didn’t have the option to ‘get away.’ I can’t leave my home and those who need help. There are more and more of these people every day. Air raid sirens sound all the time in Kyiv. We hear explosions. Terrible things are happening in the suburbs: the Russians shoot families, bomb buildings and hit the humanitarian corridors.”
These days, Ksenia has realized that she is very strong. She feels that Ukrainians have all become one family, one team. “There will never be enough words to describe the unity that everyone is working with. People have become one. It can not but captivate. I am proud to be Ukrainian.”
Ksenia admits that she is frightened by the news, it is difficult to imagine what people feel in the most hellish places: “Murders, captivity, rape are unprecedented human abuse. And it can’t help but be scared of it.”
“I don’t accept violence in any way. Seeing the evil that is happening now is my worst dream. Now I am very angry that my land has been invaded without invitation and my people are being killed. And I will do my best to make sure we win.”
She dreams of a peaceful sky and victory. Nothing more.
