Author:
Mariia Kucova
On June 13th, 17-year-old Valeria, who was repatriated after being deported to Russia, spoke at the National Endowment for Democracy's (NED) annual awards ceremony. In addition to her, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Joe Wilson and others made speeches.
Valeriia urged the participants to support Ukraine and its Armed Forces. We have published her speech below.
Before the War
Hello. I'm Valeriia, I am 17 years old. I am from the Ukrainian city of Nova Kakhovka, which is located on the Dnipro River. When I was 13, my mother died and I stayed with my grandmother. I used to do dancing, aerial gymnastics, and loved to walk around the city. I had a typical teenage life.
Onset of Large-Scale Invasion
On the morning of February 24th, 2022, we woke up to the sight of columns of military vehicles rolling through our city, marked with the Z symbol. Tanks, military trucks, and armed soldiers filled the streets. We did not realize that it was a Russian invasion, the war.
By noon, the Russian tricolor flag had been hoisted over the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station. Realizing we were now under hostile military occupation, I was so stressed that I began to experience a persistent ringing in my ears that lasted a month.
Soon after, the shelling and explosions began. It was absolutely terrifying.
Leaving for Crimea
Later, the occupiers announced the so-called “evacuation”. They compiled lists of all the children of Nova Kakhovka and announced that everyone had to come to the main square of the city at 10 a.m. the next day.
Thus, on October 8, 2022, more than 500 children gathered in the main square of the city. We were loaded into 14 buses and taken toward Crimea. Each bus was monitored by an armed Russian soldier, and we were escorted by their military police.
We were promised that we would stay in Crimea for no more than two weeks. However, I ultimately spent two months there.
Campaigning
Every day in the "Luchisty" camp was almost the same and looked something like this.
At the “Luchistyi” camp in Yevpatoriia, our daily schedule was as follows: in the morning Russian national anthem, then school, where Russian teachers told us a “pseudo-history”. They twisted the facts, claiming that the Chernobyl disaster was an artifice, that there was no Holodomor — Famine in Ukraine, and that Russia is the greatest nation for having defeated Napoleon.
We were regularly visited by people who were campaigning for us to enter Russian universities. They promised that if we persuade our parents to move to Russia, we would be given an apartment, receive regular cash payments, and have free tuition.
But the prerequisite was having a Russian passport. Moreover, it was impossible to receive medical treatment without one.
Language
We were not given the opportunity to study Ukrainian. We were taught Russian and forced to list it as our "native language". I witnessed the suppression of Ukrainian and the persecution of those who spoke it.
We were entirely labeled as children of the Russian Federation. They simply erased the fact that we are Ukrainians — citizens of Ukraine who have lived in Ukraine all our lives, although now in its militarily occupied territory.
Young Children
The worst thing for me was watching small children aged 5–6. They were neglected, dirty, and frequently fell ill as it grew colder. They suffered from bronchitis and head lice infestations. There were almost no medicines in the camp. No one cared about the children's health; only their lesson attendance counted. Missing even a single lesson was not allowed, as punishments would follow.
I stayed in the camp for two months. My guardian was permitted to take me back, provided we returned to the militarily occupied territory.
Returning to Ukraine
The camp revealed Russia's true nature: a prison state. Russia is a killer country that comes, takes everything, kills, rapes, and then blames you for it. I could not envision a future for myself in that occupying country. Therefore, risking my life, I decided to return to Ukraine.
I traversed alone with an unfamiliar driver for the entire day, passing through Mariupol, Rostov, and Belgorod. Then, I walked for two hours with my bags through a minefield, which was the only humanitarian corridor. When I reached there and saw a Ukrainian soldier, I burst into tears.
Who Has Helped Me
It was terrifying to make the journey alone. From my first days in the territory controlled by Ukraine, humanitarian organizations supported me. These included the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s Office, the Charitable Foundation "Voices of Children", as well as this significant organization, the Regional Center for Human Rights, which will be receiving an award today. I know these three organizations are doing their utmost to bring Ukrainian children back from military occupation and restore the childhoods.
And now I find myself here, looking and feeling older than my age, not because of life’s joys or the wisdom gained from books. But because the Russians stole 1.5 years of my childhood. I had to grow up too fast. The Russian soldiers now live in my house. I am only 17 and already dealing with chronic stress disorder. I feel unsafe everywhere now.
Stand with Ukraine, support our Armed Forces, back freedom and dignity.
Thank you for believing in us.
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