Post #4232659

“Why are you posting instead of going to a shelter?” I read that comment, and I want to answer it. The air raid siren started shortly after 1 a.m. My two children were already asleep. Unless you’ve had to wake sleeping children in the middle of the night because of incoming missiles, it’s hard to imagine what that feels like. I live in an apartment building. There is no proper bomb shelter nearby. The only option is the basement of our building. But when missiles are already in the air, running outside can be just as dangerous. Shrapnel can strike at any moment. And let’s be honest: the basement of a regular apartment building is not guaranteed protection from a missile strike. It may help protect against drone debris or fragments, but not against a direct missile hit. There is no subway in Vinnytsia where we can take shelter. We use what we have: hallways, basements, and the “two-wall rule.” That’s all many of us have to protect our children. So yes, I stay behind two walls. At that moment, it’s the best I can do to keep my children safe. And one more thing. Why do I post while missiles are flying? Because silence doesn’t save lives. I write because I want the world to see and understand what Ukrainian families are living through every single day. These are not just headlines or statistics. This is our reality. I write with the hope that our stories will reach people who make decisions. That Ukraine will receive more air defense systems. That our skies will become safer. That fewer children will wake up to explosions. We are not asking for pity. We are asking to be heard. Because while you’re reading these words, Ukrainian parents are once again holding their children close as explosions echo outside.