War in Ukraine. From Donetsk to Toulouse, Maria testifies: pro or anti-Putin, “my family is divided”
By Quentin Marais
Published on
3,687. This is the number of kilometers that separate the towns of Toulouse and of Donetsk. Maria Ivanova, 44, was born in the second, before settling in the first. However, for eight days, and this Thursday, February 24, 2022, date of russian invasion in ukraine, the masseuse by profession, settled in the Pink City for four years, has never been so close to her native land. She gives her testimony.
“Psychologically, I am in great stress”
Maria Ivanova will remember this February 24, 2022 forever.” It was 5 a.m.. My sister called me, she was not in Ukraine, but she told me what happened, she begins. For a long time, it was said that Putin was going to attack Ukraine. It happened… “
The hours pass, the days pass, the conflict lasts. And the state of mind of the forties is always heavier: “Psychologically, I am under great stress. »
“I can’t sleep or eat. I’m very worried. I’m from Donetsk, so I already know how the situation is there since 2014 and the Donbass war… I’m not just worried about my relatives, but about the whole country. I didn’t understand why Putin did this. Russia is not well economically, all countries have closed the door to Russians…”
A divided family
Very concerned for her family, Maria Ivanova says she has an aunt and cousins in Donetsk, but also cousins in Crimea. “They are for Putin and Russia. I am for Ukraine and Europe. We are always in touch, but we are not talking about politics…”
Her father and another of her aunts, pro-Ukraine, are at Prymorsk, in the southeast of the country. It is a city located not far from Mariupolrecently encircled by the Russians.
“I’m worried. I can’t pick them up. Ukraine is a very big country: once you get there, there are 1,000 km to cross to get to Prymorsk. It’s very dangerous. I wanted to go back to Ukraine, I’m ready to go. My husband is Bulgarian, he’s also ready to go and fight with the Ukrainians. But if I go, my 8-year-old daughter is left without her mother. And I don’t can’t leave her…”
Despite the distance, Maria Ivanova manages to follow the events via Telegram. “I stay informed thanks to people who are directly on site, who send photos and videos, ”she breathes. “I speak with relatives, friends who are there. I look at the sources officials, the governing”.
“I don’t want war”
Observer of this eight-day long conflict, the Ukrainian hammers it: “I don’t want a war in Ukraine, I don’t want a world war. Putin must capitulate, lay down his arms”. In particular, she deplores the “propaganda in Russia, which means that some think it’s us who attacked the Russians”.
“It’s not just our problem anymore, Ukrainians, because Putin won’t stop at Ukraine. He’s a dictator like Hitler. When he sees he can go further, he goes further It’s dangerous, because Russia has the atom bomb, a sick man has the atom bomb, and if he uses it, NATO will respond…”
Maria Ivanova no longer went to Ukraine for two years. His last visit to Donetsk goes back to him, to 2012. In the meantime, her daughter was born. How did the mother of the family approach these subjects with her? “It was impossible not to talk to him about it”, admits the mother. I always have info on my phone, my father calls him when he can. She doesn’t understand everything, but she knows what’s going on. »
And faced with the desire of some French people, including Toulouse residents, to go to Ukraine to help the soldiers of his country against Russia, the 44-year-old woman applauds: “It’s beautiful. There are also a lot of people who donate for Ukraine…” And she also and above all admires the relentless struggle which is carried out on its territory.
The immense pride of being Ukrainian
Daily, Maria Ivanova watches with a keen eye the behavior of her compatriots, ready to defend Kiev and Ukraine to the end. ” I am proud to see that our population is in this state of mind”.
“Ukraine is strong and united. The Russians did not expect this, and neither did I… People are not afraid. I thought that seeing the Russians coming, they would leave the country and leave the country. ‘in two days, the war would be over. Fortunately, not!’
The Donetsk native also salutes president son, Volodymyr Zelensky, who became a real warlord in the middle of the capital. “I didn’t vote for him, and I didn’t like him. But I like the way he reacted. He didn’t flee, he stayed in Kiev, he tries to defend the country until the end. I hope he will continue…”
And when Maria Ivanova tries to project herself, she looks towards Europe. “It would be a good thing if Ukraine joins the European Union. But she wants to be cautious. “It’s difficult, because there is a lot of corruption in the Ukrainian government. Europe must help stop this, and Ukraine will become a great country. »
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