Written by Maidaners
March 17, 2014 Facebook
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
Source:https://www.facebook.com/maidaners/posts/762212017122364:0

My wait is over! I asked her about the meeting a long time ago. Over the past three months, I wrote about many volunteers. Medics, kitchen staff, information services, various guards. But volunteers like this girl appeared only after February 20, 2014. More about that later.

Oksana is a 22 year old History student from Lviv oblast [region]. She came to Maidan on November 25, and lived in the hostel until November 29, 2013. On the night of November 29th–30^th, Oksana was on Maidan near the stele [Berehynia monument], just when Berkut riot police began their offensive. She was with other students. The girl refuses to talk about the events of that night, “I was hurt, but others were hurt so much more. I do not want to talk about it,” she explains. The only thing I heard about that night was that while running away from the Berkut police, she and a few other people hid in a café, and then left for St. Michael’s Cathedral at 7:00 in the morning. Oksana went home on November 30th because she did not want her parents to know about this night.

She came back on December 2, 2013. Her parents were strongly opposed to it. Oksana became a principal at the Striyska kitchen that operated out on the street. She took on organizational tasks: food, recruitment of volunteers, etc. In late December, Oksana went back home for her finals week [at school]. In January, she returned to Kyiv, and then went back for more exams. Since January 20th, Oksana was on Maidan non-stop. She volunteered wherever possible.

But from February 18, 2014, Oksana is doing only one thing. She helps the families of the deceased to organize funerals. She says the following about how it all started, “Somebody had to do it, so I did it. I did not come here for fun; I came here to help. Of course, I could never have imagined that I would help out with funerals,” she said. Oksana became sickened when she was buying a coffin for the first boy. For the first three days, she “went crazy,” says the student. She had to establish contacts with the morgues, the prosecutor’s office, family members, as well as to ensure the identification of the bodies. Prayers were sent round the clock. Due to the psychological state of the relatives, the volunteers tried to take on buying coffins, clothes and everything else for the victims. “I now know that it is necessary to buy shoes with shoelaces, and a few sizes bigger, for the dead. I wish I did not know that,” says Oksana. When sellers at the market found out that the clothes were for the Heavens Hundred, they often gave suits and shirts for free.

Volunteers also handed the money to the families. It was the very first financial assistance, and the money was collected very fast. But some family members flatly refused the money. “I get a phone call from the mom of one guy, and she says, I don’t need your money. Show the beast that killed my baby. And what am I supposed to say to her?,” says Oksana. Many people could not believe that they lost their loved one. The parents, the wives. “Some parents said, we do not want to have anything to do with your Maidan. They are angry because they lost their children, it is understandable,” says the volunteer. More so, the majority of the victims are the people who came to Maidan the day before these tragic events, or on the same day. We have finally been able to establish contact with some relatives only recently.

Oksana continues her work. According to her, another 21-year old guy died in the hospital today. To be honest, I cannot imagine where this young and beautiful girl gets so much strength and courage. Usually, I try to keep emotions at bay in my posts, but I cannot do it now.

For me, this girl is a hero!

And a little positiveness: Today [March 17, 2014] is Oksana’s birthday. She has just turned 22. If every one of us wishes her ​​happiness, health and love, I am convinced everything will be fine with her! ‪