The Group Portrait: 'This War Stole a Year of My Life'

Returning to 15 young Ukrainians, 12 months after the Russian invasion began.

ONE YEAR AGO, after Russia invaded Ukraine, New York Magazine asked 30 young people in Ukraine to share their experiences of life under siege. Since then, Ukrainians, who continue to beat back Vladimir Putin's army, have endured a Russian campaign of atrocities against civilians-bombings of electrical grids, razings of residential neighborhoods, murder, rape, torture, and deportation. More than 5 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes and start over in new cities or regions, and more than 8 million have crossed the border entirely. We spoke with a group of our original subjects to hear how their lives have changed since February 24, 2022.

As told to Megan Paetzhold, Bridget Read, Amelia Schonbek, Laura Thompson, and Reeves Wiedeman.

INNA ZADOROZHNA, 26, virtual assistant

BEFORE THE INVASION: Cherkasy.

NOW: Estonia.

LAST MARCH, I left my home in the center of Ukraine and went to Bulgaria. I noticed that people in Bulgaria are not welcoming toward Ukrainians, especially the older generation. I was in Bulgaria when Bucha happened, and I heard one older Bulgarian woman mocking it, saying how staged it was. That was the moment I made my decision to leave. In April, I moved to Estonia, and kind people helped me get settled. Now I'm learning Estonian. Since I've left home, I feel guilty for every moment of pleasure. You get instant regret, so finally you stop feeling pleasure. Most of my friends who left Ukraine have this feeling too.

My parents are still in Ukraine. Our hometown is in a rather safe place; despite the daily air raids and lack of electricity, life continues. Still, I worry about them and miss them terribly. I asked them to come to me multiple times, but they said they will never leave their home no matter what.