From: Euromaiden Press: “No one is tempted to take back Kaliningrad, are they? You’re just a demon of evil, Putin! Who gave you the right to destroy people’s fates?” Leonid, who couldn’t believe that Russia would attack Ukraine, says
Once a child under the German bombs of WWII, and now, at an age when peace should be his sanctuary, Leonid from Kharkiv dodges the echoes of the past in the form of Russian missiles.
🔍 Born in 1937, a year marked by both the construction of a new life and the ruthless acts of the NKVD, he grew up in the shadows of war. Yet, amidst adversity, his family’s story is one of survival and hope.
🛤️ From the safety of bomb shelters to the serene yet haunting evacuation trains to Kazakhstan, Leonid’s early years were shaped by the war’s relentless shadow. Despite the hardships, the spirit of his family, especially his grandfather, a skilled cobbler, kept them alive through the harshest of times.
🎓 Fast forward to the present, and Leonid, alongside his wife, faced the harrowing decision to flee their homeland once again. This time, seeking refuge from the war unleashed by Russia on Ukraine. Their journey to safety, fraught with fear and uncertainty, led them to Frankfurt.
💔 Yet, the scars of war remain deep. Now battling cancer, Leonid reflects on the parallels between his past and present. The destruction, the loss, the cruelty of war. But amidst it all, his story stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Voice of Ukraine 