"I don't remember much about life before the war."
Sofiya shares her story with our Mission workers in Ukraine.25th January 2026
"I am currently in fifth grade. I don't remember much about life before the war. My parents told me that it wasn't always like this, but now we know that there are people who really dislike us, who send rockets and drones, drop bombs, and try to destroy our country. I don't understand why they do this. What I do understand is that our soldiers are giving their lives to protect us.
"I am very grateful to them, because where there is an enemy, nothing alive remains. Like other children, I often feel fear, but my parents teach me to overcome fear, knowing that the almighty God is with me. He will definitely end this war, and in the meantime, he will protect our bodies and souls."
"We have a bomb shelter at school, and after the alarm sounds, we have two minutes to get there. At that moment, I am afraid that we will not make it in time, and I pray that every child and adult will manage to hide.
"I am waiting for peace. For me, peace means the end of fear, the opportunity to walk outside without worrying. I want to study safely; I want nothing bad to happen to any of my relatives. Our family prays for this every evening."
Find out more about our work in Ukraine, and how you can make a difference.
