On 15 April, the Representation of the European Commission in Tallinn hosted a presentation of the book “Living Despite Everything: Women’s Stories of War, 2014–2022”, followed by a meeting with the authors.

The book was published in Estonian with the support of the Open Estonia Foundation, while the translation and editing were funded by the Estonian Cultural Endowment. The event was organised by the Open Estonia Foundation, the East Ukraine Center for Civic Initiatives, and the educational and cultural centre “VILNI.”

Three protagonists, Nataliia Lohozynska, Tetiana Tovstokora, and Maryna Suprun, took part in the presentation, sharing their stories of survival. They spoke about their experiences in Russian captivity after the occupation of their cities and how they found the strength to rebuild their lives after their release. Their stories are powerful truths that must be heard by the world — a testament to the urgent need to listen.

Yuliia Boiechko, spouse of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia, addressed the audience at the event. In her speech, she stressed that “these voices must resonate globally, as they represent not only the truth about the war, but also a call to action and solidarity,” and extended her gratitude to the authors and protagonists for their courage.

It was a gathering focused on real stories of war, strength of spirit, and human resilience.

photographer Masha Bakhtina