When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, it marked the beginning of a new calendar for Ilyas and many Ukrainians who now make a clear time distinction between the end of one life and the beginning of another.
In Episode 34, Ilyas talks about meeting his wife Natalia, the triggers that bring old memories flooding back and the suffering that follows forced separation from your family - an experience now being endured by millions of Ukrainians.
 
Ukraine War Diaries uses first-person audio, recorded on the ground in Ukraine, to give an intimate day-to-day perspective of life in a war zone.
 
BACKGROUND -
Ilyas is an IT specialist and married father who fled from Kyiv to Lviv shortly after the war started. Right now his wife and two young sons are taking refuge in Poland.
As of June 2022, Ilyas is back living in the family apartment in Kyiv and working, in part, for the Ukrainian government on specialist projects.
 
 EP34 of Ukraine War Diaries was recorded using Whatsapp voice note.
 
From the producers of Sky News’ multi-award winning series – StoryCast.
 
CREDITS -
Series Producer - Rob Mulhern
Production Support/Editing - Paul Stanworth