When the Ukrainian army came to my village

Hey there! I'm Dasha - a volunteer and a resident of Ukraine. I'll share my story today.<br><br>One day, the Ukrainian army came to my village in the Kherson region. My family and I, along with 70 other families, were forced to endure the harsh conditions of war. While the Ukrainian forces were trying to return to our land, we found a way to continue our lives despite the constant shelling and lack of basic necessities like electricity, water, and food. We gathered together to help each other and shared what little food we had. We rationed bread and flour, and sometimes, we even received some small food packets from the Ukrainian side.<br><br>One day, the Ukrainian army came to our village, and it was a surreal moment. They set up their tents and equipment, and at first, we were scared of them, not knowing what to expect. But soon, we realized they were there to fight for our freedom, to defeat the Russians.<br><br>The Ukrainian soldiers were kind to us. They brought us food, bread, and even offered to take some of the elderly to safer areas, but most of us chose to stay behind. We learned to live without the essentials and found ways to entertain ourselves, like playing cards and backgammon, or taking our cows to graze.<br><br>The soldiers set up their equipment in our yards, and we lived among them. One evening, a Ukrainian soldier asked me if he could use our fence to hang up his wet clothes. I was scared at first, but soon, we became friends, and he even gave my younger brother a Ukrainian flag pin. We talked, shared food, and they helped us with our daily tasks. They took us to a nearby forest to collect firewood, as there was no electricity or heat in our homes.<br><br>A young Ukrainian soldier, younger than me, even brought my younger brother cards and chocolates.<br><br>When they were about to leave, we hugged, cried, and took photos together. They gave us a Ukrainian flag and drew a heart on my face. We said, "See you in victory," and they left to continue their fight for our freedom.<br><br>I'm still in this village. And I'd like to thank the Ukrainian soldiers from the bottom of my heart for being so kind and understanding towards us. We all know that the war is far from over, and there's still a lot to be done, but with these kind-hearted soldiers, I know that one day, we'll be free from the horrors of war.<br><br>That's my story, and I hope you enjoyed listening to it. I'm not a professional at speaking or sharing my story, and I apologize if it's a bit hard to understand.<br><br>Thank you for your time, and I hope to see you in our victory.