Series: Transitions from Louis Media looked at the journey of three Ukrainian women. Louis Media
in “Dance for Ukraine,” the latest podcast special walkways, Broadcast on February 23rd, Louie Media’s reporter and director Anastasia Mikova interviews three Ukrainian women about their lives disrupted by the bombs.
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. A year later, the conflict continues. “Dance for Ukraine” podcast special episode Transitions, produced by Louie Media and broadcast on Thursday, February 23, Franco-Ukrainian journalist and director Anastasia Mikova tells the harrowing story of three lives under the bombs, “the ones we don’t listen to, don’t want to listen to.” Daria, a 33-year-old DJ, Katya, a mother and fashion designer at the same age, and Lera, a 30-year-old interior designer. In this captivating 56-minute audio documentary, each recounts their daily lives and feelings during the war in their own way and through voice notes.
In the video, Ukrainian women arrested by the Russians are mobilizing with the video
From bombing to flying
In our headphones, we hear for the first time the beginning of the war, which began a year ago, and the growing concern of young women shortly before the bombings. “Everyone was looking at each other on the streets of the capital. We were all looking for answers. Will it be or not? Go or stay. The war was suspended in the air,” recalls thirty-year-old Lera of Belarusian origin.
Thursday, February 24, 2022, the day Russia invades Ukraine, marks the end of one life and the beginning of another. Daria, a 33-year-old DJ in Kyiv, remembers waking up in a panic as the city was being bombed. “We thought we were in fiction,” says Lera. Their daily life, family life and even work is completely disrupted. “That morning I went to work in the studio and haven’t come back since,” Katya recalls.
Very quickly, a fateful question arises: should we stay and risk being trapped, or should we leave, leave our roots? At first, none of the three Ukrainians wanted to flee their country. “I’ve always believed that if you never hurt anyone, something like this can never happen to you,” Katya says.
But the danger is there, very real. This modeler quickly understands that “the targets are not only military, but also civilians, children”. Thinking about protecting her 7-year-old granddaughter, the young woman ultimately decides to flee the country, not without difficulty, as she leaves her husband, homeland and everything she has built.
Living in an “alternate reality” again
Arriving in Poland, where they stop, mother and daughter are surprised to discover a country where “peace reigns and where the sky is peaceful”. Not far from them, on the other side of the border, other people are not lucky, Katya regrets. For example, in Ukraine, we no longer shower carelessly, but in an urgency, he says, to get ready and run as soon as the sound goes off.
The more they leave their country, the more the gap grows and an “alternative reality” emerges. Now exiled to Paris, Katya and her daughter are always surprised to see people “tasting their glass of wine on the terrace”. “You can’t believe there’s a war out there,” he says.
Lera also ran away to settle in Berlin. “I had no more money. I have applied for jobs all over the world. I got a good offer in Berlin,” explains this interior designer. After more than 80 days of conflict, Daria will be the last to leave Ukraine. Now he, who continues his DJing, settled in New York and promised to spread Ukrainian culture all over the world. One evening, in a crowded room, he addresses his audience and invites them to act. “Please support Ukraine,” he pleads. Today, let’s dance for the entire Ukrainian people.”
Dance for Ukraine, a special episode of the Passages podcast, hosted by Anastasia Mikova and produced by Louie Media, is available on all listening platforms. Additional information louiemedia.com/passages/ukraine
Source: Le Figaro
