Because Russians
Elena Prokina, representative of the All-Russian Popular Front
The roads of war brought a refugee from Slavyansk to my house. The place Khrestishche, where she bought a house four years ago, planted cucumbers and zucchini on 40 acres, is famous for the fact that there is an Orthodox church in it, where the priest cares about preserving the true faith and serves the liturgy every day. A simple woman of forty years old. Born in Siberia. She grew up an orphan. She gave birth to a child. I ended up first in Donetsk, then in Slavyansk. Simple, in a long skirt, with a light brown braid and hopes of having children and living with a big family.
They started shooting. He practically does not discuss the essence of the events taking place. Refers to the words of the priest from Khrestishchi that “they fight for the Orthodox faith.” It was in this village and with the blessing of this priest that men - village residents and church parishioners - began to erect the first checkpoints. She grieves about the zucchini. Left home and husband. They wanted to leave together, but the priest did not bless the husband’s departure from the village, because “a man needs to protect his home and mother. And a woman must save children.”
During the entire time of our communication with her, the only question that she asked the sky and the Ukrainian government: “Why are we doing this? For what?” In everyday life and with me she spoke pure Russian. However, between times with his daughter, he heard Ukrainian speech. She is embarrassed to speak openly in the language of those who deprived her of the right to home and peace.
Eight checkered bags containing winter clothes, bedding and daughter’s toys. And the eternal question: “how to live further?” We spent five days talking with her. He wants to start living again, trusts people and dreams of returning home. To my husband and zucchini in the garden. Well, if she has to stay here, she asks to get her to work in an orphanage. Because, in her words, “she is an orphan herself and is ready to wash the floors in an orphanage.”
Of course, it’s difficult for her in the city. I was unaccustomed to the bustle, the need for clear decision-making and people who said and did not do. In five days, five people promised her some kind of help. Either arrange for a child to go to camp, or help transport bags, or meet with the governor, or give money for travel. She left her phone numbers, waited for calls, and called back herself. And it didn’t work out.
Its. Understandable. Russian. Finding herself in the environment of a “mini-metropolis on the edge of the land,” the woman was confused and completely lost heart. But nothing supports faith and strengthens the spirit like the realization that there are people nearby who find themselves in the same position as her. I went to my people. In Solnechnogorsk, a small village near Alushta, the owner of the boarding house allowed 50 people from Slavyansk to stay. There was also a place for my refugee daughter. There is the sea, a large parrot, and all the women take turns preparing food for the entire detachment of those who fled from the gunshots to the sea.
We agreed not to get lost. In the fall, when prices for rented real estate in Sevastopol fall, and the orphanage decides on the wage rates for employees, I will take the refugee back. If the war doesn't end. But she is internally convinced that the war is still two years away. And for another two years she will not be able to plant zucchini in her garden and really hopes that her house, for which she and her husband have been saving for five years, will remain intact.
There are a million such stories about refugees from the Southeast. And even more changed life circumstances, from which not every person will be able to get out. Everyone can help. Take responsibility for at least one person and not abandon him. Fulfill the word. Lend your shoulder. Because they are Russians.
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