Meet Yeva. Yeva’s apartment is located in Kharkiv and was destroyed by Russian shells.  Now her home is being rebuilt through efforts by Restore Ukraine.

Yeva’s home was still intact when she left it with her grandmother. The first in several escalations in Russia’s war had just begun, but Yeva’s life was already shattered.

Only a few days later, she received word that a cluster bomb had exploded in their apartment: the wind was whipping through a hole where her balcony used to be.

“I cried a lot when they told us our apartment had been destroyed,” the young girl said.

Yeva`s home: Before / After

Yeva’s grandmother helped her escape from the initial onslaught. If it wasn’t for her decision, the two may have been there for the explosion.

“We left our residence empty-handed,” Irina, Yeva’s grandmother, said. “We carried a small suitcase containing a warm blanket and a laptop. I put a gold cross on Eva and left the rest of the gold in the apartment in a box. I had no intention of leaving, but when it came to saving lives, I forgot about things and the apartment. At that point, I had no emotions… I was only guided by common sense.”

To help process her experiences, Yeva began writing.

“When the war broke out, I began keeping a diary,” Yeva said. “Because it was too frightening to talk about what was going on.”

Yeva’s records were later released in the United Kingdom as a book titled ‘You Don’t Know What The War Is.’

20 countries have agreed to publish the book so far. Thanks to Yeva, millions of people around the world will be able to see the horrors unfolding in Ukraine through the eyes of a child. 

“Everyone is aware of the word war,” Yeva wrote in her diary. “However, not everyone comprehends what it means. You could say it’s awful. However, you do not fully understand the extent of this fear.”

Yeva and her grandmother

Yeva and her family members are now residing in Ireland. The 12-year-old continues to speak on world television and at conferences. She recently called for an end to the war at a TedX conference and will speak on Feb. 24 at Oxford University. 

“Because we are abroad, we must discuss the war and report on how terrible it is,” Irina said. “That this is impeding the development of a new generation. We all want a bright future and peace.”

Yeva is overjoyed that, thanks to the assistance of Restore Ukraine, she will have a place to live after the war is over.

“I was depressed because I knew it would be difficult to return there with a child,” Irina said. “To arrive at an apartment where there isn’t a single wall… I couldn’t believe it when Restore Ukraine offered me assistance. As I say this, tears well up in my eyes. It was like a miracle.

“The most amazing thing is that even my neighbors and relatives did not respond to my requests for assistance, and complete strangers decided to assist me. I am eternally grateful to Restore Ukraine for this!”

Snizhana Letyuk, journalist for the Restore Ukraine.

Yeva is overjoyed that, thanks to the assistance of Restore Ukraine, she will have a place to live after the war is over.

“I was depressed because I knew it would be difficult to return there with a child,” Irina said. “To arrive at an apartment where there isn’t a single wall… I couldn’t believe it when Restore Ukraine offered me assistance. As I say this, tears well up in my eyes. It was like a miracle.

“The most amazing thing is that even my neighbors and relatives did not respond to my requests for assistance, and complete strangers decided to assist me. I am eternally grateful to Restore Ukraine for this!”

– Snizhana Letyuk, journalist for the Restore Ukraine.