There is no better place on earth than your own home. And if the house - the war? Then the border between present and future are erased, and there is only one - hope.
Ukraine. Lugansk region, Sverdlovsk.
June 17, 2014
…5 o'clock in the morning. Something sticky anxiety and obsessive-scraper soul and interfere with sleep. Oksana replayed a hundred times in my head thought: "It cannot be here border zone! We did not fire ..."And at the same time somewhere far away, breaking the morning silence, and leaving no stone unturned in its former self, explosion. "Dolzhansky" A little later were heard shots and shots from the checkpoint.
"This is a good distance away, soon everything will stop," - repeated the woman and her husband Ruslan 16-year-old daughter Ola, who were going to work and school. Small two-year Marik slept and smiled in his sleep. It took another 2 hours. Sounds shootout became even closer. And suddenly the earth shook very close - two missiles fell. As it turned out, their fragments mortally wounded nine-year boy in the neighborhood, a man and an old man. Oksana, petrified by what is happening, is pressed against the breast crying baby, back to the reality of a phone call. Her husband - a mining engineer, miner - shouted into the phone: "Take the children and run to the basement! Now! Near the mines explode bombs outskirts under mortar fire, all work stopped. I go to you". Beside himself with fear, the woman began to call her daughter and mother. Fortunately, they have been connected, and all together went to the place where Ostapenko family advance equipped bomb shelter - a large basement husband's parents' home.
They were equipped with beds, shelves and in the refrigerator had an old stock of essential products and drinking water. When saving this could be enough for a month. Loaded were axes and spades - in the event of a collapse. Inexorably approaching night, and with it - peals of thunder and bombing. The sky seemed to burst apart and blinded a variety of lights: all five of the hostages of the situation seen each other as day. They silently whispered prayers calmed adult children and decide what to do next. The conclusion was asking all the same: to run. While here, in Sverdlovsk, Ostapenko themselves, their work built for themselves a life you've always dreamed. Spacious house, work on the soul, established way of life.
Sverdlovsk - Luhansk.
June 22, 2014
The week passed in a blur: talks with relatives from Russia, Belarus, Italy, gathering the most necessary. Fear for the lives of children intensified with every shot, every shell burst close.
...The taxi but Oksana and her children were seven women. Men of the road across the border was not - once they were taken to dig trenches. Because Ruslan with the mother remained in the Sverdlovsk. Blessing of the most expensive people in the way to Belarus, they were crying.
On this day, Lugansk bombed. As soon as the bus with the fugitives he entered the city, being hit by shelling. Staying on the sidelines, the driver refused to go further. With difficulty catching a ride, Ostapenko headed towards the railway tracks. Get to Kiev - that at the time was the most important. Echoes of explosions could be heard everywhere, and station shuddered as the earthquake. Such horror-filled eyes of children, has long ceased to cry, Oksana did not see even that fateful night of 17 June 18. And when he finally managed to wait for a train, a woman with children jumped into the first car. A sigh of relief from all escaped only when the train turned out to be far beyond the Luhansk region. And here Oksana waiting for another shock. Her daughter Olga, who showed in these terrible days of incredible courage and endurance, turned gray.
Belarus. Viciebsk region, Vorša.
June 27, 2014
…6 a.m. She opened her eyes and listened. Only the birds singing outside the window, next to children sleep peacefully, and the first rays of the sun streaming through the curtains! "And Dawns Here Are Quiet, and the sky is clear," - Oksana thought and carefully hid Brand plaid. She was calm. For the first time in recent weeks. Behind Kiev, where relatives have helped to quickly arrange the necessary documents to travel abroad behind the war. That's only husband stayed there, outside of fear, and my mother.
The first day of the relatives on his father's side Oksana began with a prolonged breakfast. After all, so many things have to tell each other, cry together and wiping tears, make plans for the future. What it will be a new life? The woman did not know. However, the kind words and sincere support of the Belarusian family hope. Victor and Natalia Bohan children themselves huddled in a studio apartment, but in spite of this, offered shelter Ukrainian relatives. "I will not become a burden," - Oksana had resolved then. And on the same day with all the documents in the hands went first in Vorša district executive committee, and then - for organizations and enterprises of the city. With two higher education in "Heating engineer", "Master of Computer Science and Mathematics" great experience she hoped that there is a place for it. And I guessed that if all goes well, the family will stay in Belarus. If not - will go look for a better life ... And because of indifferent Belarusians and migration policy states all hope of happiness in the blue-eyed true.
The trouble is not left
Just a few days stay in the Vorša Oksana realized: she and her family are no strangers. The woman was looking forward to the first working day as a teacher in a city kindergarten №1, which identified and a small brand. And Olga went to the 10th class of school №19. Ostapenko in the coming weeks pledged dorm room. And most importantly, from which the soul came to a standstill in anticipation of good, - the news of the imminent arrival of the head of the family. Another attempt to break through the border was a success - it opened just 20 minutes, and the Ruslan’s machine managed to slip along with several other car lucky. The man was driving through Russia and for 21 hours without sleep, rest and navigator covered a distance of 1.5 thousand kilometers! So great was the desire to quickly squeeze the chest of the most expensive and close friends. "Approaching the Vorša district, I felt so badly that they are here somewhere, very close, that never went astray - as if an invisible hand led me all this time, - says Ruslan. - Do not put into words is a moment when, after a separation and a half months long, I saw my family - a happy, full of plans and hopes!"
Now they are together again and, 20 years ago, are starting with a clean slate...
Now the family of Ostapenko lives in a comfortable hostel - warm and comfortable. Daughter Olga became a student of Mogilev University, she is studying at the faculty of computer science and mathematics. Ruslan works as a driver at the Vorša bakery and gratefully commended the team and the manager. "I never thought, - says the man - that people can be so responsive to the misfortunes of others. When Mark got sick (the boy due to climate change began to have serious kidney problems - ed...) And Oksana came with him to the regional hospital for 2 months, I just got a job at the plant. The money did not exist, I decided to ask for an advance, especially on anything without hope. Imagine my surprise when the next day allocated financial assistance for medical treatment of his son. "Helped to survive and settle Ostapenko in difficult times and other Belarusian family - Hutski, Rabekin families. Now Oksana and Ruslan there is even a small cottage with a plot - in the village Narejkava. The work on the ground, their products - it is something without which they cannot do. "Even with a good income, we never sat around, - says Oksana. - And especially not accustomed to ask for help and hope that someone will do something for us. Yes, it was hard at first to grow roots. But this is not a war. And for what you have done for us, thank you very much!"
Olga Lebedeva, Vitebskiye Vyesti
