• While the Russian military is often blamed for the destruction of Mariupol; Tatyana sees things rather differently.
• We spent around two weeks hiding in the cellar.
• More than a million Ukrainians have sought shelter in Russia since the war began.

Since the conflict began, more than a million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Russia. “We hid in the cellar for almost two weeks.” There was no running water, no heat, and no light. Outside, neo-Nazis were strolling the streets; telling us that this is all for our independence vote in 2014; and that we’ll all die here – the Russians will come and massacre us all,” Tatyana recounted of the war for Mariupol’s early days.

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While the Russian military is frequently blamed for the city’s destruction; Tatyana has a different perspective. “We hid in the cellar for almost two weeks.” There was no running water, no heat, and no light. Outside, neo-Nazis were strolling the streets; telling us that this is all for our independence vote in 2014; and that we’ll all die here – the Russians will come and massacre us all,” Tatyana recounted of the war for Mariupol’s early days.

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