‘Hi, I’m Elya, I’m nine and a half. I’m hiding from the war.’ Children from Mariupol left messages and drawings on the walls of a basement where they hid as Russia’s siege destroyed the city
Mariupol was almost completely destroyed during the Russian army’s invasion of Ukraine. While the city took artillery fire, many residents, including a number of children, hid in the Priazovskyi State Technical University. The kids sheltering there wrote messages on the building’s walls. After Russian troops captured Mariupol, construction workers from Russia entered the city. Among them was Alexey, a native of Mykolaiv, who left Ukraine for Bashkortostan, in Russia, in 2014. He found the messages left by children hiding from shelling on the basement walls of Priazovskyi University. Journalists from news outlet The Village published photos of the children’s words and drawings. With The Village’s permission, Meduza is sharing photos and English translations of the words left by children hiding in a basement from Russian bombs.
I’m hiding out from war.
Hi, I’m Nata, it’s March 19, 2022. The 24th day of war. I’m from the east myself, on February 24 they shelled us and we fled our home. This story will end and leave only memories, fear, and blood. Everything will work out. If anything happens, here’s my Instagram [redacted], you can check and see if I’m among the living, write to me if you see this.
Hi, I’m Elya, I’m nine and a half. I’m hiding from the war, I live on the eastern bank. I’m leaving here today. I’m glad you’re reading this text. Live, little bunny.
This is just a little cat.
Dina, 16, Marik [Nickname for Mariupol]
Leningradsky district on the eastern bank
Hoping we survive
Rostik [age 11] March 19, 2022, 24th day of war
Hi, it’s me again, Nata. We settled down in this corner, slept on chairs, cooked over a fire. Today is March 19, 2022, we’re finally planning to leave tomorrow. There’s no light, water, or other comforts here. We’ve been hiding in the basement for 24 days, basically. Shelling and missiles haunt us everywhere. PGTU [the university] took six direct hits. Mariupol is a ruin, a specter. It’ll be very interesting to see how this ends, whether there will be a Ukraine. I’m tired of waking up to explosions and [missiles] screaming overhead. There’s no glass [in the windows] anywhere, and it’s super cold outside.
I’m 17, I was planning to enroll in medical school, everyone sitting here had many plans and goals. But, unfortunately, no one needs us. No one was even planning to officially evacuate us, we’re on our own, at our own peril and risk. Of course it’s really boring here, but I made friends with Dina. I only want one thing — peace! I really hope that where we’re going, we’ll find a home and build a life.
Important: Today is March 25, 2022. Tomorrow, we’re going to Manhush. It’s 25 kilometers away [15 miles], we’re going as a group. We’re going to wake up at 5:00 am. Wish us luck…bye!
It’s too bad that you won’t see any more news from me, but don’t be upset!
If there are no more messages, we got out!