Playground of war

Oleksandr was working as a welder in Taivalkoski, Finland when he noticed a pain in his stomach. He was diagnosed with cancer in January, and he returned home to Ukraine just days before the Russian assault.

Oleksandr and Olga lived with their two children near Kherson. The family was renovating their home where they had dogs, cats, rabbits and ducks living with them. The area was famous for its beautiful nature.

When Oleksandr returned home in late February, he registered in the local hospital. His next chemotherapy session was planned for the beginning of March.

The morning of the attack Olga’s friend called her to tell the news. Like many others, the family wasn’t certain if the news was true.

It was true.

The family stayed in their home. They slept with their clothes on and had two suitcases packed, so they could flee as fast as possible. The house doors rattled during the bombing. Olga didn’t show her children the fear and stress of the situation. She was certain that showing it would make the situation worse for them.

Oleksandr needed his cancer medication, but it was nearly impossible to get prescription medicine and all the hospitals were closed. Luckily, after pleading with the doctor the family was provided with the medication. They were let into the hospital spaces for administering the chemotherapy, which they had to do by hand one drop at a time because there wasn’t any equipment left.

The family decided to escape with the help of their friends. They had 15 minutes to pack everything. Two of their dogs could come with them, but the rest of their animals had to stay. Olga’s sister and mother joined them.

They drove as a caravan of five cars with the parents in the front so the children wouldn’t be the first in the line of fire, if it came to that. They had marked their cars with white children’s clothes and written “children” on them. It likely wouldn’t have helped if they had come across Russians.

As locals, they knew a route the Russians wouldn’t take. In Mykolaiv, the family contacted their town’s official and reported the safe way they had taken. The next day almost 300 cars safely escaped the area on that route. Then the Russians learned of it.

The Russian invaders often came to steal food from the locals. Because the family’s home was being renovated and had construction equipment around it, the neighbours soon realized, that the Russians didn’t bother to check it, so the neighbours hid their food there.

The family also had a well on their property and during water shortages it became the lifesaver for the town.

The family made their way to Finland. Olga’s sister and mother stayed in Latvia.

In Finland it was crucial for Oleksandr to get treatment, and they contacted the doctor, who had treated Oleksandr previously in Finland. He got the care he needed, and his cancer went into remission.

Olga, Oleksandr and the children have decided to stay in Finland for the time being. Once their dream home was a beautiful playground for their children. Now it’s only a minefield.

“We didn’t have time to think of the possibility of a war. Oleksandr’s cancer diagnosis took all of our thoughts elsewhere.”

“Our children had hobbies. Our daughter took dancing lessons and our son went to an art school.”

“Our neighbourhood is now a minefield. Last week a child of our friend was killed by a mine.”

“They came and stole and took what they wanted by force.”

“Black, burned by fire, half-destroyed residential buildings of the city look with their windows to where the Russian artillery came from. They look at Russia. And now, as in a mirror, the Russian state can see itself. “

– Volodymyr Zelensky

Reference List

BBC. 8.6.2022. Irpin: Russia’s reign of terror in a quiet neighbourhood near Kyiv. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61667500

Council of Europe. 31.3.2023. Anniversary of the liberation of towns Bucha and Irpin. https://www.coe.int/fi/web/portal/-/anniversary-of-theliberation-of-towns-bucha-and-irpin the Guardian. 24.2.2022. Russia has invaded Ukraine: what we know so far. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/24/russia-hasinvaded-ukraine-what-we-know-so-far

Helsingin Sanomat. 21.2.2022. Rajakaupunki Harkova oli Venäjä-mielinen, mutta sodan uhka on saanut sen uhkumaan ukrainalaista patriotismia. https://www.hs.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000008620662.html

Human Rights Watch. 8.3.2022. Ukraine: Russian Assault Kills Fleeing Civilians. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/08/ukraine-russianassault-kills-fleeing-civilians

Ilta-Sanomat. 24.9.2022. Elämää miehityksen alla. https://www.is.fi/ulkomaat/art-2000009089082.html

Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. 2019. Irpin. http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CI%5CR%5CIrpin.htm

Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine. 2006. Kharkiv. http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CH%5CKharkiv. htm

Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine. 17.7.2020. New areas: maps + composition. https://www.minregion.gov.ua/ press/news/novi-rajony-karty-sklad/

MTV Uutiset. 24.2.2022. Venäjä iski kaikkiin Ukrainan suuriin kaupunkeihin – näin hyökkäys on edennyt. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/ venaja-hyokkasi-kaikkiin-ukrainan-suuriin-kaupunkeihin-operaation-mittakaava-hahmottuu-kartalla/8363514#gs.uiph0f

MTV Uutiset. 5.2.2023. Venäjä iski ohjuksella Harkovan yliopistoon – video näyttää historiallisen rakennuksen tuhot. https://www.mtvuutiset. fi/artikkeli/venaja-iski-ohjuksella-harkovan-yliopistoon-video-nayttaa-historiallisen-rakennuksen-tuhot/8626824#gs.tyu7hq

State Statistic Service of Ukraine. 1.1.2022. Number of Present Population of Ukraine, as of January 1. https://ukrstat.gov.ua/druk/publicat/ kat_u/2022/zb/05/zb_%D0%A1huselnist.pdf

Yle Areena. 17.10.2022. Ulkolinja: Harkova sodan jaloissa. https://areena.yle.fi/1-63309372

Yle Uutiset. 27.2.2022. Venäläisjoukot ovat päässeet Ukrainan toiseksi suurimpaan kaupunkiin Harkovaan. https://yle.fi/a/3-12043017/64-357194