“Now I Am a Child of War And a Grandmother of War...”: Testimony of Woman N From Chernihiv About Life in the Surrounded City (February 24 – April 2, 2022)

(запис і публікація О.Воробєй)

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to show the true history of survival of a person during the full-scale invasion of Russian Armed Forces on the Chernihiv region, occupation of Chernihiv oblast and siege of Chernihiv (February 24th – April 2nd, 2022).

To achieve the goal, the method of interviewing of a female respondent of Bobrovytsia microrayon (c. Chernihiv) was used.

The result of the research is a testimony of an eyewitness of active combatant operations, destruction, and reconstruction of the same city after its liberation. We have noticed such survival strategies in extreme conditions of life: outdated, sometimes forgotten home heating techniques, ways of preserving and cooking food, personal hygiene, leisure and the principles of neighbourly mutual aid. The lack of centralized water supply caused particular discomfort in life. Methods of collecting rainwater and using one mug for several needs, for example, personal hygiene, cleaning, watering poultry, are mentioned. Despite the difficult events experienced, the interviewed Chernihiv woman does not lose her optimism, makes plans to restore her house, and continues to grow vegetables.