In the street, at the foot of the building, there is a car registered in Ukraine. She allowed part of Irina’s family to flee the advance of the russian offensive. The other part arrived by plane via Poland. All met in Châteauroux and have been trying for a week to regain their footing while the conflict has now lasted nineteen days.
We decided to come here because we had nobody else in Europe – Anna
In the bedroom, we hear the laughter of children. Ivan, Valéry, Nikita are between six and two and a half years old, they play with their figurines and plastic swords. Anna’s children did not experience the conflict directly. Their mother, Anna, Irina’s daughter, decided to leave before the war broke out. “I feared the war would start because it would have been difficult for me to leave the country with three children. It would have been really hard. So we decided to go to Poland and see. And then it started so we decided to come because we didn’t have anyone else in Europe, so we decided to go to Irina, my mom” says the young thirty-something.
On the iPhone, one of my sons put a photo of Kyiv, he misses his home – Anna
However, the youngest are well aware that something serious is happening, “they understand because they hear everything adults say to each other” confides Anna, who continues “They also understand because sometimes they ask us to show them Kiev, to show where we used to live“. Carefully, she explained to them: “on the iPhone, one of my sons put a photo of Kyiv, he misses his home. We told him that we can’t go home now because it’s war”.
This Monday, the family has an appointment at the town hall to send the three boys to school. Anna is keen on it, it’s a way of helping her children to learn French but also to find a normal rhythm of life so that they are not too disturbed by what is happening in their country.
Russian soldiers use violence on women and children – Valéry
The war, precisely, until a few months ago, Valéry, Anna’s father-in-law, never expected to see her in his country. He was the last from Kyiv. The Russians were already very close to the capital. Valéry spent several days in the bombardments. Irina plays the interpreters for us, Valéry entrusts her with her last memories of her city: “Terrible, everything he’s seen in WWII movies is the same thing doubled. The house next to his has been blown up. Russian soldiers are using violence on the women and children”.
Even if Anna is relieved, Valéry is deeply marked. He trembles at times. He has big dark circles too. And then, Valéry is a bit lost: “It’s complicated to completely change your life, he got old, he built his whole life there. Now he’s here, he doesn’t speak the language, he’s confused and wonders what he can do make” translated Irina.
We are very grateful, very very grateful – Irina
They can in any case count on Castelroussine solidarity. Around Irina, a real chain of mutual aid has developed. Some have provided accommodation for Anna’s in-laws, others have brought toys for the children or even food.. They say they are very touched by the help received and the welcome they received in France. “We are very grateful, very very grateful” says Irina.
Still, part of the family is still there. Irina’s second daughter, in particular, joined the resistance. While his mother, who is 76, is currently stranded in Poland.