Kseniia is 14 years old. The war forced her to leave her hometown of Kherson and follow a path of displacement through Izmail to Vinnytsia. Behind these moves are the experiences of occupation, fear, and the loss of stability at a very young age. At the same time, Kseniia has retained the ability to reflect, speak about what she has lived through, and seek inner strength in a new reality. Her story is the voice of a teenager who experiences war consciously while trying to rebuild a sense of safety and future.
🎥 Video Story
🟦 1. WHO IS KSENIIA
Kseniia is a 14-year-old girl from Kherson — sensitive, intelligent, and wise beyond her years.
She feels the world deeply and has a strong sense of justice.
Her story is one of quiet courage, resilience, and light.
💬 “I love fairness. I want everyone to be equal.” — Kseniia
🟩 2. BEFORE THE WAR
Before the full-scale invasion, Kseniia lived in Kherson — a warm, sunny city that she still calls her favorite place on Earth.
💬 “Kherson was beautiful and kind. People were always ready to help.”
She went to school, danced, took part in competitions, and spent time with her big, loving family.
🟥 3. WHEN THE WAR BEGAN
💬 “We were at home when we heard people breaking into the building.
We turned off our phones, deleted chats, and hid them. It was terrifying.”
Kseniia’s family lived through searches and raids by Russian soldiers.
When it became too dangerous to stay, they made the hard decision to leave.
💬 “It was scary, but I tried not to show it. I think my parents did the same.”
🟧 4. THE EVACUATION ROUTE
Kherson → Mykolaiv → Izmail (Odesa region) → Vinnytsia
💬 “We spent one day in Mykolaiv, then two months in Izmail, and finally moved to Vinnytsia.”
The family left almost everything behind — taking only two backpacks and their laptops.
They brought their pets along: a cat named Asya and a dog named Dana.
🟦 5. NEW LIFE IN VINNYTSIA
In Vinnytsia, Kseniia started a new chapter — new school, new dance studio, new friends.
💬 “At school, everyone was kind. I made two close friends — one at school and one in dance.”
Adjusting wasn’t easy.
💬 “Some people supported me, but others said: ‘Why did you come here?’
I wouldn’t wish anyone to go through what I did.”
🟪 6. DANCE — HER STRENGTH
Kseniia has been dancing since the age of three.
💬 “In Kherson, I did jazz-funk, hip-hop, contemporary, breakdance, and dancehall.”
She is a Ukrainian and World Champion in street dance.
💬 “My parents and sisters say they’re proud of me.”
Even in her hardest moments, she keeps performing.
💬 “Once, I learned that our house was hit right before a show.
My dance was about a girl from the occupied city.
I performed — and then cried backstage.”
🟨 7. FAMILY AND SUPPORT
Kseniia lives with her parents and younger brother.
Her older sisters are volunteers who help Ukrainian soldiers and displaced families.
💬 “I’m proud of them. They’re my role models.”
Her parents always support her — in school, in dancing, and in every dream she has.
🟦 8. EDUCATION AND DREAMS
Kseniia is a good student — though math and science come harder, she works diligently.
She plans to study law at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, following her brother’s path.
💬 “I want to become a lawyer, to defend people’s rights,
and create a guide dog school for the blind.”
🟪 9. INNER STRENGTH AND EMOTIONAL BALANCE
Kseniia is emotionally perceptive and introspective.
She practices mindfulness and meditation to manage her feelings.
💬 “Five minutes of silence help me calm down.”
After working with psychologists, she learned to recognize her emotions and turn vulnerability into strength.
Her calmness is not detachment — it’s resilience.
🟨 10. HEROES AND GRATITUDE
💬 “For me, the heroes are our soldiers.
Through cold, rain, and snow — they keep going.
Because of them, we can live.”
🟦 11. DREAMING OF THE FUTURE
💬 “When victory comes, I want to go back home.
Kherson will be even more beautiful. We’ll rebuild it.”
She dreams of creating a support space for veterans and their families —
a place where people can heal, talk, and be understood.
🕊️ 12. KSENIIA’S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
💬 “Today the war is in Ukraine —
but tomorrow, it could be anywhere.
It’s important not to stay silent, to help, and never ignore someone else’s pain.”
🟧 13. PHOTO GALLERY
The survey was conducted by the NGO “Network of Civil Society Organizations Supporting Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine” with the support of the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia, within the project “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine as a Driver of Reforms and Democracy,” funded by Norway and Sweden. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the NGO “Network of Civil Society Organizations Supporting Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine” and does not necessarily reflect the views of the governments of Norway or Sweden, or of ISAR Ednannia.
