Before the full-scale invasion, Anastasia Segaylo lived a normal teenage life in Sumy region: she graduated from art and sports schools, and dreamed of moving to the capital. However, the morning of February 24 changed everything. Her parents stood up to defend the country, and the girl, due to her father’s ultimatum, found herself a thousand kilometers from home – in Uzhhorod. This is a story about lost peace, linguistic transformation, and growing up in wartime.
"Pasha (name), war!": the morning that divided life into "before" and "after"
Nine ballistic missiles for a small border town is too many. Anastasia remembers waking up to the first powerful explosion: the house shook like a house of cards. There was nowhere to hide, so the family just sat in the windowless hallway, hoping that at least that would save them.
The family was informed about the beginning of the Great War at four in the morning — an aunt called. At first, no one believed it, because the explosions had not yet been heard. But later, Anastasia’s father, who serves in the National Guard, received a call from the unit. Despite the fact that he was on sick leave and had not received direct orders, the man gathered himself and went to his comrades.
| Shostka after night shelling on January 13, 2024. Photo: Suspilne Sumy
Chernihiv direction and the horrors of the Yagidny basements
On their father's orders, the family left for a village near Chernihiv Oblast, hoping to find safety there. They had to flee in a state of panic, leaving behind huge lines, empty gas stations, and shops.
Meanwhile, Anastasia's father, together with his brothers, set off to defend the neighboring region. "They left in their cars, without basic phone charges, in ordinary clothes. We didn't know where he was or what was happening to him, because there was no communication in the village. This went on for several months," the girl shares.
| Morning attack by the Russian Federation on July 5, 2022. Photo: Dzerkalo Tyzhnia
Later, my father participated in the liberation of the village of Yahidne in Chernihiv region, where the occupiers held local residents in a school basement for months. Hearing these stories from him, realizing that such atrocities were happening in the 21st century, was extremely difficult for the family.
| Photo of the basement of the Yahydnyanska branch of the Kulychivska comprehensive school after liberation. The occupiers held about 350 residents of the village there from March 3 to 31, 2022. Photo: UKRINFORM, 1+1
Ultimatum for security and moving to Transcarpathia
As an 11th grade graduate, Anastasia dreamed of entering Kyiv. However, because of the war, her father gave a tough ultimatum: her daughter must go to a safer region — Zakarpattia.
The girl traveled to Uzhhorod National University through tears. The most difficult test was the distance of over a thousand kilometers from home and the constant fear for her family.
"When the threat signal sound and your parents don't pick up the phone, you sit in Uzhhorod in a panic and don't understand anything. It's a huge stress. No matter how dangerous it is at home, it's much calmer to experience these arrivals there, because you're with your family and you see that everything is fine with them," the student admits.
Mother follows father: a family of defenders
Anastasia's emotional state became even more difficult when her mother decided to join the National Guard as well. The woman felt that this was her duty. The girl finds this decision difficult to accept due to the constant shelling of her hometown and military bases, but she feels boundless pride:
"Our women also, if they want to, must protect us. I am very proud of my mother for making such a decision," she emphasizes.
Anastasia was helped to overcome stress and adapt to Uzhhorod by her school friend, Victoria, with whom she moved together, and later by a new environment at the university and new friends.
Another significant challenge was the language barrier. In Sumy region, the girl mostly communicated in Russian or Surzhyk. But thanks to training and support from friends, she managed to adjust, and now she proudly speaks pure Ukrainian.
“Despite all this difficult experience, it made me stronger. I want to advise young people not to be afraid of changes. They make us more resilient, and each of them opens up new opportunities for us,” Anastasia concludes.