“Destroyed lives, shattered hopes, destroyed future for people like us,” Naumova thoughtfully states at the beginning of the conversation. She mainly visited women and children in Ukraine in order to provide her support there as much as possible – both by listening, playing music, and delivering charity packages for the victims of the war. Emotions ranged from tears to genuine emotion. Naumova tells about the performance: “I sang various songs, including Ukrainian and the national anthem. They were so happy about the performance, the only thing that asked not to sing in Russian… Not using the Russian language is their resistance to all that, what’s going on there now…”
The presence of war
“Initially, we had planned to go on the trip only with my husband, but then other people joined us. We also took my guitarist Yegor Kovaikov with us, but the husband of Eurovision winner Ruslana gave us the guitar. Documentaries who had their own interests and Ukrainian volunteers also applied to go. A program was drawn up so that we could all visit as many places as possible in Ukraine on the given days,” says Naumova.
Putin’s war up close: Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv and its people in March 2022
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The singer has experienced a wide range of emotions during her time in Ukraine. “This is history in the making! And this history must be felt… All these fifteen months since the beginning of the war, I have lived with parallel thoughts and actions for the good of Ukraine,” she says.
“Many ask me if I was afraid to go to the cities affected by the war. There was no fear for a moment, even though the presence of war can be seen and heard almost everywhere. At no time is it known where the explosion will be or where something will fly…” she admits.
Feel the unbreakable strength of the people and spirit
When talking about what she saw in the cities of Ukraine, Maria’s voice breaks and tears fill her eyes. “Everyone has seen the photos from Butch, but I also talked to the people who live there. They cry and open their hearts when they speak. It’s the horror they tell about what they experienced,” Marija does not hide her indignation when she describes what she saw in Ukraine. “People still live in those city ruins. The windows are broken. Views like in the movies… Curtains are fluttering through glass broken by explosions. It would seem that life has ended there, but no. People do not want to leave their cities and homes. Large residential buildings, half collapsed, but on the other side windows have already been put in, and people live there. With hopes, he believes in the future in his homeland. It is unfathomable to see all of this in person, because every shot, collapsed house is a ruined human life,” says Marija.
After the liberation of the city of Buch from the Russian troops, the war crimes of the occupiers are revealed on the streets [Brīdinām – nepatīkami skati!]
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She does not hide her admiration for the tenacious spirit and great work capacity of the Ukrainian people. This is evidenced by conversations with the locals and what I saw in the cities, which after the destruction of the war, the people are quickly trying to clean up. “There are places that are unrecognizable when compared to the photos you see, which were taken during the attack of the occupiers. For example, Kharkiv is very clean. So clean everywhere that it feels like you could walk in white socks without shoes. Such parks! I even had the feeling as if I was in a French park,” Maria is excited about what she saw. She emphasizes that people are very cultured, sincere and kind: “No rude words and no drunken people. We heard rude words only when the talks were about the war.”
“The everyday life of Ukrainians is seemingly no different from ours – people wake up, go to work, visit shops, cafes, bars. At first glance, it seems that everything is the same as here in Latvia, but it is not. Sirens sound continuously, noises of air raids, often followed by explosions, there are fires… This terrible background was present in all the cities we visited. A fragment of a drone shot down in Kyiv hit the office of the organizer of our trip on the evening of May 4th – part of our group visited this office during the day… In the very center of the city, near the station, everything she had cherished for years burned down,” says Maria about the reality in Ukraine.
I want to go to Ukraine again
The Naumov family has been supporting the Ukrainian state since the first day of the war. This is evidenced not only by the organized removal of Ukrainian refugees from the war-affected territories, but also by the selfless support of several Ukrainians, to whom Maria’s family gave them a place to live in their family’s properties. Title: “Ukrainian Singer Maria Naumova Shares Heartbreaking Stories of War-Torn Ukraine”
Date: June 20, 2023
In a recent interview, Ukrainian singer Maria Naumova opened up about her experiences visiting war-torn cities in Ukraine and the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict. Naumova, known for her charitable work and support for war victims, shared emotional accounts of the destruction and resilience she witnessed during her visits.
Accompanied by her husband and other volunteers, Naumova embarked on a trip to provide support and relief to those affected by the war. She visited various cities in Ukraine, including Kharkiv and Butch, where she witnessed firsthand the aftermath of the conflict.
Naumova described the presence of war as palpable, with the constant fear of explosions and uncertainty hanging in the air. Despite the dangers, she expressed that she felt no fear, driven by her determination to support Ukraine and its people.
During her conversations with the locals, Naumova was deeply moved by their stories of loss and resilience. She recounted encounters with people who had experienced unimaginable horrors and witnessed the destruction of their homes and cities. The singer’s voice broke, and tears filled her eyes as she spoke about the emotional impact of these conversations.
The scenes she witnessed in the war-torn cities were described as haunting. Buildings reduced to ruins, broken windows, and curtains fluttering through shattered glass were a common sight. However, Naumova was inspired by the unbreakable spirit of the people who refused to abandon their homes and remained hopeful for a better future.
Naumova emphasized the importance of sharing these stories, stating that it is crucial for the world to understand the true extent of the devastation caused by the war. She expressed her indignation at the war crimes committed by the occupiers and called for justice for the victims.
Through her music and charitable efforts, Naumova aims to raise awareness and support for the people of Ukraine. She believes that their stories must be felt and shared to ensure that the world does not forget the ongoing suffering and resilience of the Ukrainian people.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, voices like Maria Naumova’s serve as a reminder of the human cost of war and