Seventeen-year-old Katya from Kramatorsk is afraid to go outside because of constant Russian attacks, yet she does not want to leave her hometown. UNICEF shared her story. On October 8, Kramatorsk suffered another tragedy when a Russian aerial bomb struck two minibuses. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 33 people were killed and another 18 were injured.
Katya and her younger brother Hlib are preparing to evacuate to Kharkiv. After Russian strikes destroyed houses on their street, staying at home became too dangerous.
What saddens the teenager most is having to leave her piano behind. Music helps her cope with fear, anxiety, and the daily reality of living under Russian bombardment.
“When I feel sad, I sit down at the piano, and the music calms me. Music and dancing are my little friends who are always with me,” Katya told UNICEF.
Despite the danger, she admits that leaving Kramatorsk is the last thing she wants.
“There are so many strikes in the city, and it’s very loud. But the city is still alive. And we don’t want to leave,” she said.
Katya has already enrolled in a music college. She hopes that one day she will be able to return to her hometown and perform a concert for her loved ones — without the constant fear of Russian attacks.
Meanwhile, on October 8, Russia struck two minibuses in Kramatorsk. According to Zelenskyy, some of the victims could not immediately be identified because of the severity of their injuries. The explosion also damaged residential buildings and vehicles.
While Katya dreams of music, education, and a peaceful future, her hometown continues to live under the threat of Russian bombs.
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