Вікторія Набокова Viktoriya Nabokova

We were all for an independent Ukraine. And we still hold to these ideas today. I see that Ukraine… I don’t know what would have happened to it if we hadn’t chosen this. What we chose was right. And I see these steps. If we hadn’t been pushed back like this — if our dear brother [Russia] didn’t push us back sometimes — we would be quite flourishing today. I understand that what’s happening now — it’s envy towards us. That’s the only way I can [explain] this. Anger and envy. Because we can, we aspire, and we desire.

I remember: the Orange Revolution, the elections — the third round. Considering that we were working [during that time]. I was at the polling station then. It was tough, I had to travel there. I remember that third round. I was the chairperson of the polling station commission. It was difficult, challenging in the sense that within the commission itself, there was discord because the third round had already split everyone 50/50. And the orange scarves were a mandatory attribute. I remember a woman from [the] Kyiv [region], from Vyshneve, who came to us to work as a secretary in the commission. She was so scared. — Was she from Yushchenko, a representative of Yushchenko? — Yes. She was so scared, and then we… I don’t know, I can’t speak for everyone. At our polling station, we didn’t have any [issues], everything was transparent. Especially with so many observers — even if you wanted to do something, it was impossible, and they followed you everywhere. So when that stack of [votes] for Yanukovych grew before her eyes, it was the choice of our people, we couldn’t influence it. She saw: Yanukovych, Yanukovych, Yanukovych, Yanukovych. Later, we had dinner together. And she said, “When I came here…” As far as I understood, she needed money. Her daughter was about to give birth. (I don’t remember her name, these are just such stories.) She said, “Everyone told me, ‘Where are you going, you’ll be killed there.’ And it’s so great with you, girls.” Mostly women worked in the commissions, and we said goodbye as friends. After all, we’re all human. No need to... When they came, they said to us, “Everyone here are bandits.” I said, “Well, look, here we are. Well, if we’re bandits, then we’re bandits…” Maybe we set up the work correctly, maybe we just got good people. It was friendly. It was good. So, the people made the choice. We documented it and handed it over. We couldn’t influence it in any way. But the people who left us — they left with love for us, we felt it.

I couldn’t participate in any rallies because, at that time, I was the head of the election commission, and we had to remain impartial. So… We saw it, but [took] no [part in it]. It was hard to influence anything because I remember when they came to me. I was sitting, working on the computer. There’s no secret in that. And they come in. They’re all in balaclavas, and they say to me, “We’re taking your computer.” <…> — Was this at the election commission or the institute? — At the election commission, since that’s [where I was] at the time. “We’re taking your computer. Do you mind?” I said, “How can I mind? You’re armed, and I’m just sitting here. I’m a woman, sitting and working.” I said, “I can’t object. Do you understand? I’m not going to give my life for a computer. That’s clear.” So they took the monitor. Well, that’s just their education. They took the monitor. Took the printer. But they left the monoblock [case]. Fine. I sat there, they carried off the monitor, carried it away. Then someone else came and took another printer. I just sat there, thinking, “Well, they’ll come back now.” I peeked out. The person on duty was sitting there. I asked, “Where are they?” — “They’ve gone. That’s it.” Good job they did.

I remember when bread was delivered by boats to Sviatohirsk, to Lyman because the bridges were destroyed. I remember Ukrposhta. I remember the children who were pulled out of basements. And when I’m asked, “What do you need?” I say, “Sanitizers. For now, give us sanitizers.” And we’ll feed [people] with bread. And I remember, after that, after the liberation, the first New Year we spent in safe bomb shelters in Sviatohirsk, in Lyman. Those children were like little wolf cubs. They were so happy with the gifts, like all children. This year, we’ve dedicated a lot to giving children gifts for New Year’s. It’s hard to talk about some recovery now. We understand that the enemy is right here. Well, the burned vehicles has been cleared, trees are somehow being removed. Sviatohirsk. And that’s thanks to ordinary people. Regular, ordinary people. There’s no need for this there. It’s great that there’s no need to tell them, “Go clean up.” They [just] get up [and do it]. We see it in [the aftermath] of the strikes. In Sloviansk, when a strike hit at seven in the morning, by the time I was driving in the evening, everything was cleaned up. I live near the military enlistment office. When a strike hit the enlistment office at nine, I had just passed by. I was driving, there were so many cars, and thought, “Oh God, so many military vehicles.” You know, as they say, I jinxed it. And just as I got to work — boom. My husband calls and says, “It’s near us. Well, thank God.” By the time I was driving in the evening, everything was cleaned up. That’s thanks to our municipal workers — it’s their feat. It’s incredibly hard. It’s incredibly hard, it’s constant work, regardless of time, place, and everything. That’s why the Donetsk region is strong, it will endure, I understand that. We will rebuild everything. But it’s a pity. Within the framework of the Great Construction program [a government initiative launched in 2020], so much was done. Schools so good that I’d envy studying there even now. And when children talk about it, I tell them, “You know, when we opened those schools, when we attended the openings, we understood this program.” And the roads. What roads do we have? As a driver, I can say it was a miracle. And the schools, kindergartens, hospitals, equipment, everything. As I said, it’s the envy of our enemies. They understand — they don’t have anything like that. And there are examples of this. When they are surprised by our homes, even the simplest ones. It’s not like we’re talking about palaces here. This is about simple homes. That is, I understand that Ukraine will remain strong, independent, no matter what. You know, challenges are given to the strongest. That’s why we will endure them.