Valeria Shashenok, a young photographer living a quiet life in Chernigov, northern Ukraine, spent one night in an underground basement to protect herself from a Russian bombing. He could never have imagined seeing the ruined streets where he spent his childhood, or some of the most iconic buildings in his city being reduced to rubble, like an old movie theater that survived German attacks during World War II. But not being paralyzed by the devastation, he decided to document it with the tools he knows best: social media.
This war was broadcast live not only by the media, freelance journalists, photographers and Fixers (Local journalists and producers assisting foreign ambassadors). The horror of the conflict was also shown in real time on social networks by many citizens of Ukraine. Some young people like Valeria decided to do it in a less casual way, using humor and irony, and managed to get their message across to millions of people around the world.
Valeria posted travel, friends videos or displayed works on Tik Tok and Instagram, but after the Russian invasion she began to talk about what her daily life was like in a shelter with family. He did it in a less solemn register than we are accustomed to, recording even his parents dancing to the rhythm of a popular Italian song. C’é moon mezz’o mare The bodies, however, were not exactly a Tarantella.
In videos lasting less than 20 seconds, which have already garnered millions of hits on Tik Tok, Valeria – @ Valerisssh on social media – showed how difficult it is to buy in a supermarket with virtually empty shelves and abandoned refrigerators or how to spend several nights without a lighted candle. , In addition to showing the damage caused by the bombs in the homes that were just a few days ago. Another of his hallmarks was Vladimir Putin’s thanks, among sarcasm and smilies, for the damage done to Ukraine.
In an interview with todaytimeslive.com, he says making these videos is his way of fighting this war, showing the world what is happening in Ukraine. He also admits that it was a kind of therapy to deal with the tragedy that came so suddenly on February 24th.
“I just wanted to document my life in Ukraine. This is my war, people are going to fight and my way of fighting is to take photos, this is to express myself and contribute. Making funny videos on Tik Tok makes me feel better, less sad, it’s like therapy, a way not to go crazy, ”he says, admitting that he never thought these videos would invade the world. “It’s all still very strange to me.”
After a two-week war in Chernigov, one of the cities hardest hit by the onslaught of Russian army attacks, Valeria managed to leave the country and arrive in Poland, making her one of more than four million refugees. Conflict in Ukraine. “I did not imagine that in such a short time Vladimir Putin would be able to harm our lives in this way, we would become refugees and kill so many people. I am like all Ukrainians: we want to return to normalcy, return home and build a better Ukraine.
His journey on the evacuation train was also recorded with a tragicomic key and he already has over 17 million views on Tick Talk: he went without a passport and with just a few items while his parents are still in Ukraine.
“It was the scariest trip of my life. It was very long and I almost did not wear clothes, which is a big deal. The space on the train was very limited and I stood for 10 hours, but even so, people try to be optimistic. In Poland everyone was very friendly and something We ate hot. [Los ucranianos] We are safe thanks to the good people of Poland, the good people of the world. “That is why Ukraine will win the war, because we know that the whole world is with us,” he said.
Having experienced such a difficult journey in the first person, he believes that any refugee, no matter where he comes from, should be welcomed by other countries as the people of Ukraine. “It is amazing that there are people who are refugees and can not cross the border. You [ciudadanos ucranianos] We moved to Poland without a visa. “I think refugees need help no matter where they come from,” said the young ticker.
A few days after arriving in Poland, he decided to move to Milan, where he stays with an Italian family. From there he continues to tell stories about new life and raise money for Ukrainian refugees through the NFT project. His popularity on social media has led to him being received by the city mayor at Palazzo Marino and being interviewed by media outlets such as the BBC and CNN.
While Valeria is safely in Italy, her mind is still on Ukraine, where her cousin died a few days ago when she was hit by a bomb while trying to pick up something at home. Despite everything, he says, he prefers to think that the war will end soon and he will not be able to return to his homeland in the not too distant future. “This is a terrible time for us. We are saddened by the loss of my cousin, like all Ukrainians who have lost family and friends, but we strive to be strong and continue to live, to continue to be happy.
Source: El Diario
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
