Katerina Lavrenko, a teenager from Ukraine, shares her experiences from the war in her country, reflecting on how she first began to comprehend the gravity of conflict at a tender age. Growing up in the Bilokurakine district before the occupation in 2022, she had heard about the occupation of cities like Luhansk but had not grasped what it meant until helicopters began to fly over her village. One notable morning, a Ukrainian helicopter flew overhead just when she wanted to check on her chickens, and although her father rushed her back inside, she felt a sense of security knowing it was their military aircraft.

Throughout the conflict, the presence of military vehicles on their rural roads became common, and Katerina recounts feeling little fear, knowing that the soldiers represented her nation and its resistance. With the Ukrainian flag depicted on their vehicles, these military presences were perceived as protectors rather than threats, fostering a sense of pride among the young residents. Katerina recalls an incident where a tank broke down, and the soldiers worked tirelessly to repair it throughout the night alongside local men, exemplifying the community's strong spirit and the soldiers' dedication to their mission.