On the night of February 24, the Norwegian-Ukrainian’s life was turned upside down. The invasion of Ukraine was underway.
There were reports of artillery fire and explosions over the cities of Kyiv and Kharkiv.
At the same time, Aastap Pasternak woke up to a phone call from his mother.
– She cried at the other end. It was impossible to sleep any more that night. I was just lying in bed reading the news. I have a constant inner turmoil that does not go away.
Timeline: This has happened in Ukraine
– We are one
The 27-year-old has lived his last six years in Oslo, but was born and raised in Gjøvik with his Ukrainian parents.
He is both a Norwegian and a Ukrainian citizen. And very proud.
– We are united as one unit. We are one, and we help each other. It’s completely insane. I have never been more proud to be from Ukraine, he says to Dagbladet.
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The 27-year-old thinks it is far to be far away from his homeland. In a way, he wished he was there right now.
– It feels pointless to sit here in Norway. You can not contribute in any way. It’s so far away.
Close contact with the cousin
Pasternak’s parents come from a small town in Cherkasy Oblast, which in the north borders the capital Kyiv.
Friday morning it was reported fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces north of Kyiv. Eyewitnesses described gunfire and explosions in the Minsk Massif and Obolon areas.
Hours later, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that they had entered Kyiv.
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Pasternak’s cousin works as a doctor in the middle of Cherkasy. Although he has admitted patients with injuries and serious gunshot wounds in recent days, he tries to be positive.
– We talk daily. He says he tries to take it all with a smile and that he must be positive. Destructive thoughts can not be taken away, even if people down there are completely gone, says Pasternak, and continues:
– My cousin is now outside the local military department for mobilization. All my peers have been told to show up.
– Unity
The 27-year-old believes that Ukraine only has itself to trust.
– Putin is a tyrant. He removes our independence.
Towards Putin: – Scary
During a press conference on Thursday Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO condemned Russia’s attack.
– This is a brutal act of war. Russia’s leaders must take full responsibility. NATO condemns the attack and we ask Russia to repeal the attacks immediately, said the NATO chief.
Pasternak is tired of hearing the “praises” from the rest of Europe and the United States.
– They say every day that they condemn the attack, but what does it help? It does not help anything. We can only trust ourselves. But Ukraine holds out. We see an extreme unity, and everyone contributes.
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