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Anna Asryan lives with her family in Kharkiv. On Instagram, she showed a photo of how she, her husband and their two sons celebrated the elder’s birthday. They had to spend such an important celebration in a shelter. In the photo, the family is dressed in warm jackets, but the adults and children are smiling. On February 25 Anna's son celebrated his 5th birthday in these conditions.
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Asryan added a touching post to the photo: “When those for whom I breathe are present, I wake up in the morning, smile, make tea, there is someone who will say ‘I love you too’ ... I want to live!!!” There were many comments under her post.
When those for whom I breathe are present, I wake up in the morning, smile, make tea, there is someone who will say ‘I love you too’ ... I want to live!!!
“We believe that the sixth will be much more beautiful!!!, Happy Birthday!”, “All the best. We are with you,” “Take care!” write well-wishers.
The woman said that thanks to the affection and support of her loved ones, she does not lose hope. She admits that despite everything, her son's birthday is a joyful event. Instead of celebrating as they would like, the family sits next to their suitcases, waiting for the development of events. She ends one of her posts with the words: “God bless all the children. All those who defend us.”
Anna Asryan explains that while celebrating his birthday, a siren went off and everyone panicked.
“We had just found a cake when one of the men said to her son: ‘Make a wish!’ He said thank you,” says Anna Asryan.
The woman says the stores are almost empty, and for the time being they have everything they need. “It's a good thing we have a supply of flour, and I bake bread myself. The Russians are hitting residential buildings, children's hospitals. So not just military facilities, as they say on the news. Women are giving birth in basements and shelters,” she stresses in an interview with us.
Asryan explains that the family would like to leave Kharkiv, but her husband cannot cross the border. She recalls that Volodymyr Zelenski, Ukraine’s President, signed a decree on general military mobilization. Due to martial law, men aged 18 to 60 years will not be allowed to leave the country.
I will not go anywhere without him.
“I will not go anywhere without him. That's why we try not to panic, so that our children are calm,” Anna explains.
