For Polina Moruga, her native Zaporizhzhia region has always been associated with the Sea of Azov and home comfort. However, the Great War turned her native Tokmak into a trap. After a month of living under occupation, the family decided to take a deadly step – to evacuate on their own. This story is about an encounter with an armed enemy in the field, salvation thanks to local residents and a father who exchanged peace for weapons to win back his home.
A happy coincidence and the occupation trap
Polina found the full-scale invasion at home in Tokmak. The girl studied at a boarding school and usually lived in a dormitory. The fact that she was with her parents on February 24 was a real miracle – many of her friends who had remained in the dormitory were in despair, because their parents could not quickly pick them up due to the rapid enemy offensive.
Tokmak was occupied on February 26. The city remains under Russian control to this day.
“The first week we were in such despair – we didn’t know what to do or how to act. We had no electricity, no communication, it was completely cut off,” the girl recalls.
| Occupation of Zaporizhzhia region by Russians and advancement into Ukraine. Photo: Tokmak – this is Ukraine / Telegram, BBC Ukraine
After a month of living in such conditions, the family realized: there is no future here. There is no work, everything is closed, life has stopped. They had to fit their entire past and future into two suitcases and the trunk of a car.
| Russian military in Melitopol. Photo: BBC Ukraine
Evacuation: why "green corridors" were a deadly risk
Polina's family was reunited with her friend's family. There were three children in total in two cars. They deliberately refused to wait for the official evacuation.
"It seemed like there were these auxiliary corridors from the Red Cross. But every time they announced a rescue corridor, the Russians would fire on buses and columns of people. It was many times more dangerous than going alone," explains Polina.
The choice was stark: now or never. To turn back in case of failure would mean remaining under occupation forever.
| Cars used by civilians trying to evacuate from Kyiv and Irpin were shot down. Photo: Getty Images
| A shot-up car with the sign “CHILDREN” in Stoyanka (Kyiv region), 2022. Photo: Getty Images
A machine gunner in the field and grandmothers-saviors
What was supposed to be a road to salvation almost ended in tragedy. In the middle of a field, their column came across an armed Russian soldier. He was alone, but with a machine gun.
“He shot the first cars in our convoy. I remember my dad getting out of the car, showing his passport, proving that it was his car, that we hadn’t stolen it. I understand that this Russian could just shoot everyone right now. I hear a child crying in the car of our friends next door,” Polina shares her most terrifying memory.
Having dropped the phrase “Zaporizhzhya will be ours,” the occupier still let them go. Perhaps he did not expect that they would be able to drive further. But the Ukrainians were helped by other Ukrainians. On the way through the villages, local grandmothers, who specially went out into the streets, suggested safe routes so that the family could travel to the positions of our soldiers.
Safe Uzhhorod and the father's decision
After arriving in Zaporizhia, the family spent three more days traveling to Uzhhorod, where they were sheltered by relatives. It would seem that life was starting to get better. But two weeks after moving, the family faced a new shock - Polina's father volunteered for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"We had just left the occupation, left our home. And now my dad is going to fight. But it was morally difficult for him to realize that no one was fighting for our city. He wanted to help, he wanted to liberate our Tokmak and fight for Ukrainian lands," the girl says proudly.
It was an extremely difficult period: separation from home, father at the front, stress from preparing for exams. My family helped me to survive - my sister and brothers, who were always there and supported each other.
Today, Polina has a message for everyone going through dark times: "I want to wish you to always find at least some joy in your life. Remember: this is not the end. There is always a white streak, and it will definitely come."