I live in Balaklia, Kharkiv region. The war found me and my son at home. We woke up to explosions. My husband called and told me to leave the city. He was a professional soldier, he already had a third contract with the armed forces of Ukraine. He was a shooter in the famous Kholodny Yar brigade.

My son and I left Balaklia immediately. A few days later, our city was occupied for 7 months. We went first to Poltava, and then to the town of Lubny, Poltava region. There, my son and I settled in a dormitory, there were many immigrants as we were. On March 30, 2022, I spoke to my husband for the last time. Then he disappeared from contact. In the end, I called his commander and heared the terrible news. My husband died, came under fire. The son woke up, understood everything, began to cry.

I was alone in a strange city, without home. I went down to the first floor and asked the person on duty for help. He immediately called a doctor and a psychologist, they gave me medicine. In a few days, my son and I went to Bogodukhiv to take the body. We buried him in the village of Lyman, Kharkiv region, where he was born. Soon the President of Ukraine awarded my husband with the Order of Courage of the third degree.

My son and I went to Zakarprttya region. On September 8, 2022, Balaklia was deoccupied. We returned home on October 10. Our flat was slightly damaged, but survived. Windows were broken and household appliances were broken. I started to repair all this. I have major health problems - I have cardiovascular disease. I am currently undergoing a course of drips and injections. My son is studying online. We were only able to make a survivor's pension for son. We still have not received compensation for the death husband and father. I understand, there are many of us such widows now.