- Fear froze my heart when the invasion started.
- It was a friend, a fellow mother, who advised me to pack up my stuff and move.
- This is Marina’s story as told by Ramin Mazur. Additional reporting by Heather Marcoux.
Two days into the invasion, I was in Odesa in complete fear. Although I was not at all concerned for myself, I was extremely afraid for my two children as the country was attacked.
It was the most terrifying fear I’ve ever felt as a mother. While my fellow women felt inspired to contribute to the war effort and were busy cooking or stockpiling food in schools, I stayed home and weighed every option, hated them all.
A friend of mine — a fellow mom — had already fled on foot, walking with her children to Moldova. I wasn’t sure if it was possible. I wasn’t sure if I was able to leave my husband and go into the unknown.
When my friend arrived in Moldova she was embraced by volunteers and sheltered in the capital city of Chișinău.
“Don’t be afraid to grab your kids and just go,”She told me.
My courage was strengthened by her. With my husband beside me, I was still able make decisions. Although it was difficult to know that we would soon separate, I knew my country needed my husband. He had to stay and protect the families that cannot leave. I was able to flee my children and family because I believed it, even though I wasn’t always so.
My husband and I planned my departure together
Three days after the invasion started, we sat down to have one of the most difficult conversations of our lives on the evening of February 27. Together, we agreed that the children needed to be freed from Ukraine. My priority was to get them to relative safety, and that was what I did.
After we reached our decision, I started packing everything I thought we would need — but as any parent knows, packing for kids is hectic, and we were on a tight schedule; we’d gotten word that we would be able to leave by 7 a.m.
Thank you JDCThe global Jewish humanitarian organization, which has worked for years in Ukraine, Moldova, and is responding to the current situation, would make my journey less difficult than my friend’s. We didn’t have to flee by foot, nor did I have to do it all on my own.
I filled out a questionnaire and organizers took care everything else. They gave me bus schedules, locations, as well as any other information that I needed for my trip to Moldova. They took care of all the logistics — all I had to do was get my kids and follow the plan. Although it was terrifying, it was much easier than trying to do it all alone.
We then left our home.
I left my home with the least necessary items and fed and dressed my children for the final time in the early morning hours. It was hard and hectic.
My children said goodbye and I was heartbroken for their father. Are they even able to see a future?
I followed my friend to Chișinău, where my children and I are receiving food, accommodations, and help from the Jewish community.
Courtesy Ramin Mazur
I am grateful to my friend who gave me the courage and support to get my kids out of Ukraine. And, of course, to the Jewish community of Moldova for welcoming us.
When the sirens sound, all those who can’t flee the city must return home to their families.
My children and I are trying to figure out the next steps, but my husband is helping these people find shelter under the city. This is his job. He’s a university professor. This is our daily life.
Editor’s Note: We are not using her first name to protect her identity and that of her children.