On February 24, 2022, at 5:00 in the morning, Iryna woke up to the words that would divide her life into “before” and “after.”
The television had stayed on through the night, and Putin’s voice filled the room. Russia had begun what he called a “special operation.” At first, her mind refused to accept it. Wars, earthquakes, disasters — those were things that happened somewhere else. You felt empathy, yes, but then you carried on with your life.
But this time, it was not far away.
This time, it was home.
A Phone Call to my mother
Iryna ran to the other room and grabbed her phone, praying it was all some terrible mistake. When her mother finally answered, she was crying.
“Russia is bombing all over Ukraine,” she said.
Iryna stood at the window and watched clouds drift across the morning sky. Nature was unchanged, calm, and beautiful — yet her world was collapsing
It was in that moment that she knew that life as she had known it was over.
Just Days Before
February 19, 2022 — Five Days Before the War
Only five days earlier, Iryna was at Ai-Petri in Crimea. The snow still covered the mountain peaks, and she rode a snowmobile for the first time. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and you could feel the joy. A feeling worth memorizing. Not knowing it would be one of her very last happy memories before everything changed.
February 23, 2022 — The Last Normal Day
The day before the invasion, Ukrainians celebrated Men’s Day, a leftover Soviet holiday. It rained, but Iryna and her friends still went to a Ukrainian restaurant she had never visited before.
By then, Crimea had been under Russian occupation for seven years. There were new roads, new parks, new playgrounds — but everything felt steeped in war. Even the children played war games.
She noticed how quick they were to act with aggression, how little empathy they showed, and wondered what kind of education could shape children that way.
February 24, 2022 — The World Stopped
Iryna tried to go to work that day, but her mind was elsewhere. Her boss didn’t grieve for Ukraine — she instead focused on money and clients. Iryna taught a few art classes, mostly to women whose husbands had been sent off to the “special operation.” It was unbearable — knowing those men were being sent to kill, while seeing them through the eyes of their families: as beloved husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers.
In the beginning, many Ukrainians tried to stay optimistic. Some told themselves the war might last a week. But they were mistaken.
One Year Later — Far from Home
February 22, 2023 — The war continued, and she was far from home.
A year later, the war continued, and Iryna was far from home — farther than she ever imagined she would be. She had made it to America, a land of many nations and many stories, and in time it became her home too. Here, she met incredible people who helped her, strengthened her, and reminded her not to give up.
After arriving in the United States, Iryna was welcomed by people who supported her through the difficult transition. They helped her find her first job and encouraged her as she rebuilt her life from the ground up. Over time, she found work serving other immigrants who, like her, were searching for safety, stability, and hope. She has also learned Spanish, allowing her to connect with and assist even more families as they rebuild their lives in a new country. She has also shared her story with children, helping them grow in compassion for others. Read the full story here.
Memories That Still Live in Her
Part of her heart now belongs in the United States, but another part remains in her hometown, with her mother and grandmother.
She remembers her grandmother standing at the blue gate, waving and crying as she left. Her grandmother didn’t know if they would ever see each other again.
She remembers her mother on the pier, waving as the boat pulled away. The bridge had been bombed, and crossing the river by boat was their only chance. Under the deafening roar of explosions, Iryna felt the terror of death at any moment — and the pain of leaving her family behind.
She remembers her father, her brother, and her nephews at the railway station. She remembers her friends Paul and Lana, and little Emilia, crying as they said goodbye.
Her heart was shattered into pieces.
Moving Forward with Hope
Nothing in Iryna’s daily life in the U.S. resembles what her family is living through back home. She goes about her days like anyone else — working, learning, building a future — but always with an added heaviness.
She carries mixed emotions: gratitude for safety and opportunity, sorrow for the people and places she had to leave behind, and hope that one day the war will end and she will be reunited with her loved ones, her grandmother, her home, and her happiness.
Writer: Maria Seijas
Marketing & Communications Coordinator at World Relief Memphis.
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