
Maryna Berlizova was sitting on her low mattress, an image of her youngest daughter taped to a dresser and a stroller within the nook, overflowing with child garments.
She was absently stroking her stomach and searching the window of her mother-in-law’s small three-bedroom home, which she now shares along with her kids.
In a number of weeks, a mom of 9 will develop into a mom of 10; Her younger daughter can be born into a big household however with no father – her husband, Yurii, was killed close to Kharkiv on 24 February, the primary day of the Russian invasion, the day “on a regular basis” the other way up factor”.
“My husband is a soldier,” she stated.
“In our spare time, we at all times go to the riverside for a barbecue, in all places with the children – to the zoo, in all places.
“We spent all our time as a household, you realize, we lived properly. Nothing. No household now.”
Her grief was rapid and uncontrollable; She sobbed between the phrases and infrequently stared at {a photograph} of her husband in army uniform, as if in search of his consolation and assist.
“He is an efficient man, he’s a sort, accountable man.
“He’s a sports activities coach within the brigade, they go to the competitors.
“He likes to sing and play the guitar.
“And identical to that, life is over. We had our personal plans and now I’m alone.
“We’re proud [of him]Nevertheless it doesn’t make it any simpler for us.
“Who wants this battle? What number of kids have died? Households are merely destroyed, simply ruined.”
She simply discovered her husband is lifeless. They heard nothing from him for 77 days because the Russian invasion progressed, claiming an increasing number of lives.
“After all we’re proud. They protected the others and didn’t let Kharkiv’s vertical submit cross, they only defended it alone.
“He didn’t even have time to get us out of the town. He stated, ‘I’ll take you out, then I’ll go combat’.”
“He stated in our final dialog: ‘I’ll be again when the battle’s over’. We’re nonetheless ready …”
By horrible coincidence, her eldest son is now combating on the identical entrance traces the place her husband died.
“He’s 20 years outdated, nonetheless clueless, nonetheless a child,” she stated.
“I used to be so scared for him, I used to be so scared.
“I attempted to get him out of the military due to this case, to assist us keep at residence, nevertheless it didn’t work.
“Struggle. Can’t.
“And now he doesn’t have a mobile connection. However it’s important to reside with it. I can’t even name him to see how he’s doing.
“How can this be? It’s arduous. You simply reside and consider it’ll be over quickly.”
The bed room door was securely closed, the kids have been taking part in elsewhere. Grief is finished in non-public.
“Everyone seems to be afraid to cry in order to not upset others. That’s why we don’t cry. We cry alone, however all of us don’t cry collectively. You may’t cry. After all it’s arduous.”
I requested her in regards to the Russians, the troopers who killed her husband.
“This isn’t an individual. This isn’t an individual in any respect,” she stated.
“They got here to our land to destroy our plans for the longer term, destroy households.
“I don’t know what they got here right here for and what number of extra folks must die to finish this battle.
“Three months with out sleep, three months with out sleep can also be tough.
“You’re nervous in regards to the children.
“The place will we go subsequent in the event that they immediately come right here? How lengthy are we going to run? The place will we go subsequent?”
Learn extra:
Weapons depleting on the southern frontline with barely any motion for a number of weeks
‘My child is gone… however he died a hero and I’m pleased with him for that’
The sorts of weapons being utilized by the Ukrainians in opposition to Russian forces – and the weapons they’re asking for
It’s a terrifying dilemma that so many households right here face.
Yurii is buried close by, resting peacefully within the village he grew up in, in a peaceable nook of the Ukrainian countryside.
“You’ll discover his grave, you’ll know who he’s,” Maryna informed us as we stated our goodbyes.
Subscribe to the Ukraine Struggle Diary on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Speaker
She is correct. In a small cemetery reverse the village church we discovered it.
Stuffed with flowers and with an image of him posing proudly in army uniform is the ultimate resting place of Sergeant Main Yurii Berlizov: soldier, husband, father; one of many first to die on this horrible battle, one of many first thousand.
More Stories
A watermark and ‘Spidey Sense’, exhibiting a Treasure solid from Galileo
Price of Residing: NI households face continued rise in gasoline costs
Cristiano Ronaldo was warned by police after footage emerged displaying a boy’s telephone slapping ahead | UK Information