No one would have ever thought it possible what we now have to experience again after 77 years in Europe, an insane war of annihilation. And again, a Nazi, undignified and heartless dictator, far removed from the real world, drives his soldiers to commit genocide and knowingly accepts the killing of children, women, old people, in short, civilians. What Putin would not have thought possible, however, is the courage of the Ukrainians, who are bravely defending themselves against Russian superiority. Of course, the focus is on Zelenskyy and Klitschko and the many soldiers. But many other faces and voices impress us deeply and also shame us a little, showing us their incredible courage, strength, and loyalty. One of those wonderful voices and faces of Ukraine is Anastasia from Odessa.
A BRAVE UKRAINIAN WOMAN
Certainly like you too, we were instantly fascinated by Anastasia’s personality from the very first moment. For the beautiful, courageous woman, completely different values than those that are usual in our affluent society count. So, the young mother of a two-year-old daughter is not interested in luxury. It is important to them that things serve their purpose.
ANASTASIA ABOUT ODESSA
Anastasia exudes tremendous dignity. Even in moments when she is deeply moved, her strength and humor, which seems to be so typical of people from Odessa, dominate.
But let’s learn a little more from her about herself and her hometown:
VALEUR: Anastasia, where do you come from originally?
Anastasia: I was born in Odessa, my favorite and lovely city, a hero city.
VALEUR: I can see how much you love Odessa. What can you tell us about the city in brief?
Anastasia: Odessa is an international city where cultures and nationalities are mixed. It’s a sunny city by the sea with a unique historic atmosphere and a special sense of humor. Besides, Odessa is a living museum. It is the city of art and science. Here I studied biology at one of the 18 universities.
VALEUR: So, you are a biologist?
Anastasia: Yes, but I do a lot of things. For example, I created a community to preserve the environment of healthy nutrition and animal welfare.
Of course, I’m concerned about ethical issues in today’s world. This is what I study and try to contribute to society. I sharply react to any kind of injustice, including the infringement of human rights and freedom.
In 2015, I started the first rallies in defense of animals. Some of my appearances were on television. They are still available in the news, on the Internet, and on social media.
Before the war, Anastasia was and still is a woman full of life. We hope that she and her daughter can enjoy life to the fullest as soon as possible again. Thus, we must help stop the war and that things like these happen again.
Text: Marco Kokkot
