Spring. This is already the third spring that Ukrainians are experiencing under the conditions of a full-scale war. The sun shines brighter, the weather gets warmer, but at the same time, Shahed drone attacks on the frontline city of Zaporizhzhia have become more frequent. People want to believe and hope for the best, but soldiers remain on the front lines, separated from their families, defending the country. And it is unclear when all this will end…
It is especially difficult for women whose husbands, sons, brothers, or fiancés are serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine to enjoy the beautiful weather. And it is for them that monthly meetings are held at the Raimer Center. They need a sense of community with those who understand them, as well as care and support from others.
This time, 25 women and mothers of servicemen attended a workshop. “We painted a blossoming almond branch. The inspiration was a painting by Vincent van Gogh with an interesting story. It symbolizes life, hope, and support—all of which are so relevant for us today,” shares Olga, an artist who conducted the meeting. She is a volunteer who feels a special calling to serve this group of women and is happy that working with paints and brushes can distract them, help them communicate, and open up.
“During the meeting, women do more than just paint. They share their stories and experiences. They share their pain with those who can understand them,” notes Olga, who is a volunteer at the Raimer Center. Each woman has her own story: Lyudmyla’s husband is missing, Tetiana and Iryna worry about their sons, another woman has one son on the front line and another wounded in the hospital. Anastasia is engaged to a soldier—they plan to get married after the war because her fiancé does not want to leave a young girl a widow in the worst-case scenario. Two other women lamented that their husbands had not been home on leave for over a year and had not seen their children. Another woman has been waiting for seven months—both for her baby to be born and for her husband to return from the war. Different fates—one shared pain.
Such meetings at the Raimer Center become a true island of support for women who live every day in tension and anticipation. By painting an almond branch—a symbol of life and hope—they seem to recreate their hopes for spring, which will come not only in nature but also in their hearts. A spring when the war will end, and their loved ones will return home.
Shared conversations, warm hugs, and laughter—all of this helps them find the strength to keep going. For some, these meetings become the first opportunity to openly share their story, for others—a chance to find new friends who understand them without words. “It is important just to be there, to listen, and to remind that even in the darkest times, there is light,” concludes Olga.
The Raimer Center will continue organizing such meetings because every woman waiting for her warrior deserves to feel that she is not alone in this struggle. And while the war continues, these small communities serve as a reminder: together, it is easier to endure the hardest times, together, it is easier to wait for Victory.
