Il sole è tramontato su Kiev nel 1433° giorno dell’invasione su vasta scala. “Ho gridato ‘Slava Ukraini!’ nel cortile della scuola. Poi sono stato mandato da uno psicologo”: Artem, che viveva in Crimea dall’età di 7 anni sotto l’occupazione russa

In temporarily occupied Crimea, Russian security forces routinely pursue residents for their pro-Ukrainian stance, fabricating charges, exerting pressure, intimidating families and restricting their freedom of movement. Despite this, a generation of young Ukrainians is choosing resistance over submission and life under the Russian flag. Artem Zvenyhorodskyi travelled 3,000 kilometres just to hear the Ukrainian national anthem for the first time at a railway station.

_____________________________________________________________

From the age of five, Artem lived in Sevastopol. Russia occupied Crimea when he was seven. Since then, he says, his entire life has felt imposed on him and not his own. Born in Zaporizhzhia, he nevertheless spent most of his life on the peninsula, growing up under Russian propaganda, restrictions on freedom of speech and pressure within the school system.

“I didn’t understand what was happening, but I felt that everything I was used to had suddenly become alien,” he says.

At school, the Ukrainian language was gradually marginalized, history lessons were rewritten, and any display of support for Ukraine became grounds for pressure. Artem recalls one of the first confrontations:

“I shouted ‘Slava Ukraini!’ in the schoolyard. After that, I was sent to see a psychologist and given a long explanation of why I must not do that.”

Despite this, Artem tried to remain true to himself, maintaining an interest in Ukrainian culture and history. But he understood that being openly pro-Ukrainian in Crimea carried risk. After finishing ninth grade, he enrolled at a college to study IT, although his ambition had been to become a journalist.

“I knew I would never become a journalist in Crimea or in Russia. I saw journalists with alternative views being jailed, and it frightened me. I studied only to obtain a qualification. A Russian diploma means nothing to me, it’s toilet paper,” the young man says.

The turning point came with a draft notice for the Russian army. Despite his health problems, the Russian occupation authorities declared him fit for service. After receiving the summons, he realised he could no longer remain in Crimea.

Soon afterwards, Artem found Ukrainian volunteers who helped plan a route to Kyiv via Belarus. On 30 September, he left Sevastopol, officially travelling to Rostov, but in reality heading for Ukraine. Artem was more fortunate than many: in Belarus, he obtained a Ukrainian Certificate to return and crossed the border the same day. He recalls hearing the Ukrainian national anthem for the first time in his life at Kyiv’s railway station:

“It was seven in the morning. We were standing at the station when I heard music. I stepped outside. It was the Ukrainian anthem. It was the first time I had ever heard it played in public. I couldn’t believe it was happening to me.”

Read the article here –

[https://frontliner.ua/en/how-young-crimeans-were-forced-to-flee-the-occupied-peninsula/#](https://frontliner.ua/en/how-young-crimeans-were-forced-to-flee-the-occupied-peninsula/#)

________

If you value independent war reporting, please consider joining our community on Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/frontliner_ua](https://www.patreon.com/frontliner_ua)

We invite you to share our work, provided it is not for commercial purposes. For further information and collaboration opportunities, please send us an email [info@frontliner.ua](mailto:info@frontliner.ua)