Three Years of War

This week marks three years since a full-scale invasion of russian army into a sovereign Ukraine began.  Three years ago we did not believe in what was happening. Three years ago we did not believe it could last this long. Three years ago my parents were living in their apartment in the center of Kharkiv and heard the first explosions in their city. My Mom was still working at the University where she started to work in 1963. She lived in this apartment all her life - since she returned with her parents from the evacuation in 1943 during World War II. Dad lived in this apartment since 1973. Because of health reasons, they could not go to the shelter when the bombing started. Kharkiv received a daily bombing during the first year of the war and continues to be pummeled to this day. My parents stayed home for as long as they could but as it was harder and harder to support them with food, medicine, and basic needs, as the power grid was targeted and electricity and heating became uneven, they joined thousands of people displaced by this war and eventually came to the United States on United for Ukraine Program.

In the last three years, they moved from one temporary home to another 6 times. Their beloved Ukraine was attacked a countless number of times. An unimaginable number of people died. Every Ukrainian lost someone, everyone was displaced in some way. And everybody wants the war to end and tries to do something - even from afar. My parents try to do something too - they pay their utilities as if they live in the apartment - to support the budget of Ukraine, they support friends and family members by calling, texting, and sending what little money they have, what little hope they can master. They keep Ukrainian language alive, they have Ukrainian flag on their walker and outside their window. They stay on top of all the news and never stop believing in Ukraine, and its right to exist and defend itself. 

Nobody wants this war to end as Ukrainians do. But submitting to the aggressor will not end this war - just delay of continued aggression.

The image below is a look at my drawn history of this war - through my parents. I started drawing them during our video calls when the war began. You can see all of these and read transcripts here: 

https://blog.apple-pine.com/2022/08/war-in-ukraine-guide-through-posts-on.html

A year, a birthday and 1000 days. Update on my Parents - Refugees from Ukraine - November, 2024

This week we celebrated my Mom's 84th birthday (Happy birthday, Mom!), and this week is exactly one year since she and my Dad arrived in the USA as Ukrainian Refugees. A few days ago also marked ONE THOUSAND DAYS since the first bombs fell on the city where my parents lived their whole life (Kharkiv, Ukraine) and a full-scale invasion of russian forces began. It was a week filled with many memories and emotions. But also lots of little things that make up the magic of everyday life. It is a perfect time to give you an update on my parents. 

My Mom underwent a cataract removal surgery and will soon own a new pair of glasses! Her experience with the medical system was not without some glitches yet her optimism prevailed over everything! She tried to speak to all the medical personnel in English, read all the signs in every room we went in, asked a thousand questions about everything, and enjoyed me sketching through all the adventures. She even participated in an online drawing event from an operation waiting room! She is working through my library of art history books and biographies and enjoys taking photos of all sorts of animal and plant life to discuss with me. She regularly talks to her friends and family who are dispersed around the world, many refugees like she is - and tries to find a good topic with each one - to stay in touch and keep the connection going despite some differences in worldviews. However there are some things she is not willing to compromise on - the idea of supporting putin is a hard no. 

My Dad continues his lifelong experimentation with mixing things - his drinks often contain something unusual (when was the last time you put cayenne pepper and peeled grapes in your coffee?) and he is making lots of salads that are truly an inspiration in color if not in taste! His knees and shoulders had a nice reprieve during summer when he enjoyed swimming but the season is over and we are trying to find him alternative ways to gently work arthritic joints. His interest in finding things and making things out of stuff he finds resulted in a large art installation on their patio (see photos below). There are bottles, frying pans, flowers, cups, plates, toys, pens, unidentified objects, a little mural we made, and Ukrainian flags. A daily war with the squirrel population guarantees that something will be broken or moved in the morning which means that he works on this wall of wonders every day. He plays chess daily and is responsible for keeping a strict schedule of not watching war news before breakfast and after dinner. 

They met some people on the street and are developing some new relationships. Now that they are vaccinated I hope to introduce some more interaction with people and outings to places. They miss their home, the life that they understood, their city, and the country they love. But they speak less about all of it these days - I think because they are trying to not worry me too much. It is a wonderful thing to witness their resilient spirit and utmost care for their family.

(For more background on their story please visit: War in Ukraine: Guide Through Posts on this Blog)

Mom's been a champion in medical appointments lately so I grew her more than Dad for a change - here are some out of many many sketches that I did - these represent the most "iconic" faces that she makes  :)