Ekaterina Vasilieva is 66 years old. She has lived most of her life in Kharkov. She used to be involved in the theatre sphere, teaching directing and stage speech. Then, she ventured into organizing events. However, 9 years ago, she left this business, saying, "I stopped doing it because the war started. I would organize a celebration, and people would accuse me, 'You're having fun, but there are children being killed.'"

When a full-scale war broke out, she had to leave her beloved Kharkiv with her daughter and granddaughter.

"It was a shock, a blur in the head, tears, and hysteria. Shaking hands, a child urinating from the explosions, the alarm, rockets right in front of the window, these rockets were sticking out from under the ground. It was all happening before our eyes. My daughter came and saw it and said, 'Mom, can't you see? We could be killed. Do you want us all to die?' At that moment, we were in the corridor, between the walls."

Volunteers helped them leave Kharkiv and advised them to go to Moldova, specifically to Dondiushany, where they still live. Initially, this center was not adapted for living. But literally before their eyes, they installed internet, showers, brought beds and mattresses. UNFPA Safe Space psychologists started working with them, and life began to change a little.

"I cried a lot, but along with the tears, the pain of the tragedy lessened. Of course, life comes to a pause when you arrive here, despite being fed and having a place to live. That’s when I remembered that there is YouTube. The phone was a mystery to me - how to edit, how to take photos. But there was a person who explained it all."

Ekaterina now runs a YouTube channel, which is a visual diary of her granddaughter Eva, showing her growth and what's happening in their lives. Ekaterina never lets her phone out of her hands to capture the important moments. Their center has a Safe Space where she can display her artwork on a large TV. Her creativity helps keep her in balance: "The videos inspire and draw you in, making you want more and more."

Her flat in Kharkiv is in a high-rise building. The flat survived, but a shell landed in the middle of the house, on the higher floors, causing flooding from the tenth to the ground floor. Nevertheless, Ekaterina hasn't given up hope of returning to her hometown.

Read more stories within Life on Pause series here: https://moldova.unfpa.org/en/life-pause-story-human-resilience-and-adapt...

Ekaterina Vasilieva is 66 years old. She has lived most of her life in Kharkov. She used to be involved in the theatre sphere, teaching directing and stage speech. Then, she ventured into organizing events. However, 9 years ago, she left this business, saying, "I stopped doing it because the war started. I would organize a celebration, and people would accuse me, 'You're having fun, but there are children being killed.'"

When a full-scale war broke out, she had to leave her beloved Kharkiv with her daughter and granddaughter.

"It was a shock, a blur in the head, tears, and hysteria. Shaking hands, a child urinating from the explosions, the alarm, rockets right in front of the window, these rockets were sticking out from under the ground. It was all happening before our eyes. My daughter came and saw it and said, 'Mom, can't you see? We could be killed. Do you want us all to die?' At that moment, we were in the corridor, between the walls."

Volunteers helped them leave Kharkiv and advised them to go to Moldova, specifically to Dondiushany, where they still live. Initially, this center was not adapted for living. But literally before their eyes, they installed internet, showers, brought beds and mattresses. UNFPA Safe Space psychologists started working with them, and life began to change a little.

"I cried a lot, but along with the tears, the pain of the tragedy lessened. Of course, life comes to a pause when you arrive here, despite being fed and having a place to live. That’s when I remembered that there is YouTube. The phone was a mystery to me - how to edit, how to take photos. But there was a person who explained it all."

Ekaterina now runs a YouTube channel, which is a visual diary of her granddaughter Eva, showing her growth and what's happening in their lives. Ekaterina never lets her phone out of her hands to capture the important moments. Their center has a Safe Space where she can display her artwork on a large TV. Her creativity helps keep her in balance: "The videos inspire and draw you in, making you want more and more."

Her flat in Kharkiv is in a high-rise building. The flat survived, but a shell landed in the middle of the house, on the higher floors, causing flooding from the tenth to the ground floor. Nevertheless, Ekaterina hasn't given up hope of returning to her hometown.

Read more stories within Life on Pause series here: https://moldova.unfpa.org/en/life-pause-story-human-resilience-and-adapt...

Ekaterina Vasilieva is 66 years old. She has lived most of her life in Kharkov. She used to be involved in the theatre sphere, teaching directing and stage speech. Then, she ventured into organizing events. However, 9 years ago, she left this business, saying, "I stopped doing it because the war started. I would organize a celebration, and people would accuse me, 'You're having fun, but there are children being killed.'"

When a full-scale war broke out, she had to leave her beloved Kharkiv with her daughter and granddaughter.

"It was a shock, a blur in the head, tears, and hysteria. Shaking hands, a child urinating from the explosions, the alarm, rockets right in front of the window, these rockets were sticking out from under the ground. It was all happening before our eyes. My daughter came and saw it and said, 'Mom, can't you see? We could be killed. Do you want us all to die?' At that moment, we were in the corridor, between the walls."

Volunteers helped them leave Kharkiv and advised them to go to Moldova, specifically to Dondiushany, where they still live. Initially, this center was not adapted for living. But literally before their eyes, they installed internet, showers, brought beds and mattresses. UNFPA Safe Space psychologists started working with them, and life began to change a little.

"I cried a lot, but along with the tears, the pain of the tragedy lessened. Of course, life comes to a pause when you arrive here, despite being fed and having a place to live. That’s when I remembered that there is YouTube. The phone was a mystery to me - how to edit, how to take photos. But there was a person who explained it all."

Ekaterina now runs a YouTube channel, which is a visual diary of her granddaughter Eva, showing her growth and what's happening in their lives. Ekaterina never lets her phone out of her hands to capture the important moments. Their center has a Safe Space where she can display her artwork on a large TV. Her creativity helps keep her in balance: "The videos inspire and draw you in, making you want more and more."

Her flat in Kharkiv is in a high-rise building. The flat survived, but a shell landed in the middle of the house, on the higher floors, causing flooding from the tenth to the ground floor. Nevertheless, Ekaterina hasn't given up hope of returning to her hometown.

Read more stories within Life on Pause series here: https://moldova.unfpa.org/en/life-pause-story-human-resilience-and-adapt...