the story of two daughters of a Russian soldier, traumatized by the conflict

This is the story of a war-torn Russian family in Ukraine. Anastassia and Elizaveta are twin sisters, they are 18 years old and live in Pskov (Russia), near the Latvian border. Their life changed last March, when their father, an experienced paratrooper, was sent to the front. He participated in the offensive on kyiv (Ukraine), a debacle for the Russian army from the first days of the conflict. With his regiment, he then faced the Ukrainian resistance for long weeks, until his recent return to Russia for health reasons.

Psychologically traumatized, he told his fears to his daughters, who testified, Tuesday, September 13. “He was in the hottest places, under constant fire. Mentally, it affected him a lot. He told us that one day he hid for six hours during a lance attack. rockets. There were a lot of dead around him.”says Elizaveta. “We can’t deny that he was an occupier, it’s really very sad. But we love him so much”, she adds. A filial love that does not erase the crimes committed by the Russian army. “I feel huge guilt for all Ukrainians. I’m sorry they’re going through this because of us Russians”, deplores Anastassia for her part. Today, the family hopes to be able to turn the page and live together again, as before, in times of peace.