They fight on the frontline. They lose their parents. They celebrate their sweet 16 in a bomb shelter. Thousands of Ukrainian teenagers are coming of age in a time of war.
Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv was among the first targets when Russia invaded in February 2022. Before the war, it was a major educational and cultural hub.
“We believed that an ambulance would come, and it would be possible to save her somehow. It was probably an instant death. I hope it wasn't painful for her.”Alevtina's mother, Olena, was killed on the front steps of their apartment building last year.Alevtina’s father, Serhii, is a tough man, fiercely protective of his daughter. He breaks down when talking about the loss of his wife. He sees a lot of her in Alevtina. The two have been each other’s support through the tragedy.
“I was a child before, the war has totally changed me,” he told Dateline. “Some people might say it has stuffed me up, but I would say it has changed me.” Walking through the centre of Kharkiv, Artem noticed a group of teenagers listening to music and drinking beers. “I’ve been here from day one of the war, and I won’t be able to explain how it feels, because you have to live through it,” he told Dateline.Oleksii recently turned 16. There are still ‘Happy Birthday’ decorations featuring Avengers superheroes hanging in the kitchen. It’s a reminder that he is still a kid.
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