Valerie Lazareva

Until 2014, I lived in a town near Kharkiv: halfway between Kharkiv and the border with Russia. My mother, aunt and old grandmother are still there now. When Russia started gathering troops near our border in the region, it became very difficult emotionally and I started having panic attacks. Then the doctors diagnosed me with "epilepsy" and insisted on (even pressuring) hospitalization. My husband and I refused and moved to Western Ukraine, away from people, in a house between the mountains near the forest. I am an introvert and the perfect place for me is here. I have been in remission for about 5 years.

And everything was fine, until the war that began on 24.02.22. So far, I'm holding on, but it's not clear what will happen next. I can't leave Ukraine without my lover, because most likely my body will not be able to withstand so much stress. Unfortunately, men of conscription age are not allowed to go abroad. So I'm in Ukraine, and in spite of everything I'm trying to keep drawing. Keep the sun in your soul and God will save you!