Kyiv guiding is my true calling
In 2004, Ukraine witnessed its first peaceful revolution, known as the Orange Revolution.
As a student at that time, a vanguard of the revolution, I actively participated in demonstrations in my small native town.
One day, I went to the capital, Kyiv, to Independence Square – ‘Maidan’ to join the biggest venue of the ongoing demonstration against the pro-Russian president.
I will never forget my first impression of standing in Maidan with thousands of like-minded people surrounded by dazzling snowfall.
The fiery orange emblems of revolution and democracy – flags and banners – shone like rays of hope, breaking through the glistening snow.
That was a heartbreaking moment for me.
I wanted Ukraine to be part of the European family and to cut the Russian imperial dominance forever.
Yet, in a critical twist of fate, that was not the only revolution and not the worst event in my country and life.
Time flew, and in 2013 came the second one – the Revolution of Dignity or Euromaidan, which unfortunately ended with bloody consequences.
Ukrainian identity
Seeing people dying, being killed, and tortured just because they wanted to live in a country where democracy, rights, and laws work broke my heart.
I suddenly realized my identity: I am Ukrainian.
I want everyone to know why Ukrainian people fight so bravely for their independence.
I will open my homeland’s culture and history to the world.
Little did I know in 2014 what awaited us in 2022 and what we would have to endure for the same values.
Kyiv tourist guide
In December 2016, this site, www.bestkievguide.com came to life. How many wonderful people I met during all those tours! Hardly a day goes by without me thinking about my guiding and the tourists I met from all over the world!
The first omen
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly shut down borders around the world.
I stopped receiving bookings. Just in one day, my life abruptly changed.
I did virtual tours for a while, at least it was something to do to avoid going depressed.
The two years of the pandemic marked a new turn in my life, one that would be life-changing.
In 2021, I made plans to expand my tour guide project despite its instability and the fact that it had only about 25 % of my pre-pandemic tour bookings.
When it rains, it pours, they say..
Wake up, son, the war has started..
In January 2022, my former tourists started reaching out to me, warning that Russia would invade Ukraine and that war was imminent.
They urged me to leave Kyiv immediately.
Like almost all Ukrainians, I couldn’t believe that war was truly possible.
“They would never do that,” I tried to convince myself, pushing away the thought of the most dreadful event imaginable: war?
On the fateful morning of February 24, 2022, a jarring sound pulled me from the depths of my dreams.
I was lying in bed, trying to realize if I was asleep or awake.
My upstairs neighbours were unusually loud for this time of the day, moving around, and talking.
“Yesterday, the news reported that Putin would start the war in the coming days,” a thought flashed through my mind.
I reached for my phone by the bedside and opened the news.
I read, breathed heavily, and cried.
The unthinkable had happened.
The war is on. The jarring sound that woke me up was a rocket strike that hit one of Kyiv’s buildings.
I glanced at my son, he was sleeping with the deep, peaceful rest of a 13-year-old.
I rushed to the nearest shop to buy food and water.
Fortunately, I had withdrawn some cash a few days earlier, following the advice of some wise people. Just in case.
There were already long lines at the two shops near my home.
I bought some products and a 5-liter bottle of water.
At 8 am, I gently woke up my son.
I called him softly. “Wake up, my love. The war has started..”
To be continued. .➡️