I was born in the country that no longer exists.

The day I tasted my first solid food – apple, I suppose – the worst nuclear catastrophe took place half an hour from my house.

On my first day of school, tanks rolled into Moscow and the biggest country on the planet collapsed.

I fell in love right after the First Revolution. It was the fun one.

I was pregnant, when the Second Revolution started. It was the bloody one.

I was ready for this war, which many are calling the biggest conflict of the century.

There has always been chaos around me. But I’ve made a life.

I have been loved, hated, admired, punished, paid, raped, debilitated, hopeful and desperate. Regardless of the global tragedies 
that have influenced my life, I’m just like you.

Or I try to be.

Though, it’s hard sometimes.

Because I am a Ukrainian.