It has been a month since Russia invaded Ukraine. (local time, March 25th) We met a student from Ukraine in Busan to deliver the realistic voice of what is going on now in Ukraine.

Inna Malenka (29, Busan University of Foreign Studies), who is attending graduate school, came to South Korea in 2016 for a master’s degree and reentered into South Korea for a doctor’s degree in 2019. She stayed in her homeland for six months after finishing her study last year and stayed in Korea until now. She grieved about the situation of her homeland that changed over the last few months. Through the ZOOM interview with us on March 23rd, Malenka conveys the vivid circumstances of Ukraine according to the scene reported by the press. 

Q. The situation in Ukraine nowadays is very different from when you first entered Korea.

A. Every person in Korea knows about this situation due to the reporting of the press, but the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started in 2014 for the first time. There were wars in just a few areas, so the people in the rest of the country were still peaceful and were living an ordinary life. But now, the situation is different. The whole problem of Ukraine is getting seriously worse.

Q. Maybe your family or friends are staying in your homeland. How are the local circumstances?

A. Most areas of Ukraine were bombed, and the Russian soldiers shot civilians. The situations are so difficult. People could not go out of their apartments due to the fear of gunshots, so they hid for several weeks. They could die anyway. People are so terrified that they leave their own cities.

My whole family is staying in Ukraine, and my parents are safe. However, my younger sister’s family had to leave Kyiv. The situation of my friend in Kharkiv was so bad. Most of the city was burned, and my friend hid in the apartment for weeks. My friend tried to go to the car to escape, but the soldiers started to shoot the gun, and even the car exploded. Fortunately, my friend escaped to Europe.

The Russian press reported that they blew up the building where Ukrainian soldiers were. But most people in the building were civilians. The building where the children can stay, like schools, kindergartens, are bombed too. The Russian Soldiers in Ukraine aim for the people regardless of whether they are a civilian or not.

Q. I heard that the Ukrainian people in Busan are doing the activity together to make a voice. Is it still going on?

A. I do not know the details, but I heard that they are preparing the peaceful demonstration and there are not only students but also the people who want to participate, including foreigners, who are gathering for the movement.

Q. This will be a careful question, but do you have any personal opinion about the current situation?

A. First, it is horrible. It is so hard to see my country destroyed. I hope this war ends as soon as possible. However, simultaneously, I want the territory of my country to not be stolen. I think the people in Ukraine for the fight are thinking the same as me. Plus, I want the quick finish of the war, but I hope Ukraine will remain independent from Russia. I hope to regain and protect our territory. Everyone said that Ukraine would win, but I do not think that this war would end quickly, even the victory of Ukraine.

At the same time, the international society sends us aid like weapons, food, and so on, but I am sorry about the low support of weapons or military assistance. Especially, Ukraine’s airspace needs some help, but there is no other support like airplanes or something. Maybe there are some aids in confidence. However, the surrounding countries are scared of the war, so it is a reality that they cannot give positive aid to us. They are considering it but do not actually do it. I am looking forward to the help like that.

Q. Is there anything you want to say to the readers of Channel PNU?

A. I really appreciate that everyone tries to help Ukraine. I am so grateful for the help in every way possible, like holding a peaceful protest or raising money. I can feel their feelings well.