Four Stories, One War

This digital exhibit brings together four personal testimonies from Ukrainian women, all between the ages of 31 and 35. Each woman shares a different experience of war from different regions, with different roles and different choices. Some fled their homes, some stayed behind and one volunteered on the home front. Despite their differences, all four stories echo similar themes: displacement, fear, resilience, and hope.

War completely changes everyday life. These women describe what it’s like to suddenly pack a bag and leave everything behind, or what it feels like to stay in an occupied town with no idea what tomorrow will bring. One of them talks about how volunteering gave her a new sense of purpose. Each story shows that war doesn’t just cause destruction; it also forces people to make painful decisions and find ways to emotionally survive.

These testimonies are interconnected since they show an insight on war’s intrusion into daily life. They focus on the topics of displacement, trauma, siege, and solidarity. The testimonies show displacement both physically and emotionally. Physically by either being forced to leave their home or staying under threat. Emotional displacement was shown by losing a sense of stability that was once their home. Trauma appears in both long-term and short-term effects. The short- term effects were detailed as immediate violence and destruction. The long-term effects of war may emerge in children who were exposed to violence during the conflict.

The narrative that emerges from these testimonies is one of emotional resilience and shared identity, shaped by the hardships of war. These testimonies reveal how war distorts time and place, forcing people to reimagine a new future while holding onto the past. Even through their pain, each testimony shows strength, whether through community, family or volunteering.

This isn’t just an exhibit about war. It’s about how real people live through it. I hope these stories give viewers a closer, more human perspective on conflict and remind us that behind every headline or number, there are individuals trying to find meaning in the chaos. The title Four Stories, One War highlights how different lives are shaped by the same conflict.

Testimony-128

A woman who is displaced from her town in which she describes the chaos of evacuation and the emotional toll of fear, uncertainty, and forced separation. She and her family were displaced from their home, carrying only essential supplies. This experience reflects what Baines et al. describe as the layered impact of forced displacement on women’s identity and agency.Her story illustrates the psychological toll of displacement, the challenge of decision-making in crisis.

Testimony-299

A mother who chose to stay, facing violence, scarcity, and the psychological trauma of occupation during the war. Despite chaos, she chose not to flee due to fears of separation from home and family. Her village experienced power and water outages, empty shelves, rising prices, and Russian military convoys. Her story reflects the trauma of living under occupation without displacement, and the resilience it demanded.

Testimony-935

A mother of five recounts a terrifying siege and the emotional scars it left on her children. Trapped while retrieving supplies, she witnessed the strength of local resistance. Her story captures the long-term trauma of war, especially on families, and aligns with Zasiekina et al.’s research on moral injury and the psychological effects of prolonged violence. This testimony speaks to both fear and the power of community resilience.

Testimony-1532

A mother of five recounts a terrifying siege and the emotional scars it left on her children. Trapped while retrieving supplies, she witnessed the strength of local resistance. Her story captures the long-term trauma of war, especially on families, and aligns with Zasiekina et al.’s research on moral injury and the psychological effects of prolonged violence. This testimony speaks to both fear and the power of community resilience.