Valentyna Zolotarenko has been a Roma mediator in the Kyiv region and Kyiv for 10 years. Prior to the full-scale war, she helped Roma restore and obtain documents, documented and addressed cases of discrimination based on ethnic and national characteristics, and also acted as an intermediary between the local authorities and the Roma community. However, her activities drastically changed after February 24th. Here’s her story in her own words.
Until the very last moment, I didn’t believe that a full-scale invasion would happen. Even when they were already shouting about it “from every corner”. I remember the night before the start of the offensive; I couldn’t fall asleep and went to bed only at 5 in the morning. I was immediately awakened by a phone call. It was my neighbor calling. I picked up and said, “What happened?” She said, “Aunt Valya, are you asleep? There’s a war outside. Can’t you hear it?” We live in the Kyiv region, and at that time, the first rockets were flying towards Boryspil Airport. I went out onto the street, and it was so bright as if it were daytime. I went back inside and said to my husband, “Can you hear that? The war has started.” He turned on the TV, and they were already saying that the Russians were advancing.
We didn’t know what to do. We started receiving calls from acquaintances suggesting that we leave the village. We were very scared, but we refused. We didn’t leave even when there were explosions near our house. Even though it’s been the tenth month of the full-scale invasion, the emotions are still just as intense. It feels like it was yesterday.
I worked with internally displaced Roma back in 2014, but now it’s a completely different experience. Mediation has changed in the sense that helping everyone has become much more challenging. When the first waves of Roma refugees arrived, they would call asking for guidance and assistance. But when you yourself don’t know what to do, helping becomes very difficult.
Our team was available 24/7. We tried to help everyone who reached out based on their problems and needs – coordination, support, material aid, and more. Each story goes through your heart, so enduring this was very tough. I held on with all my strength, mustering all my willpower. I felt such responsibility; I couldn’t afford to relax. People needed my support; how could I show my emotions?
For example, there was a case where people were evacuating without belongings and money, practically with nothing. They called and said, “We crossed the forest, but we can’t take transportation because we have no money.” It turned out that one of them had a bank card with them. “Chiricli” quickly sent money to that card, and so they managed to use public transport.
I also remember a case when a young family with three children urgently wanted to leave their village, and time was running out. The fund provided them with money for transportation. They managed to reach Lviv and then Spain. They called and asked, “We have some money left; how can we return it to you?” I replied that they didn’t need to return it and asked them to send the money to their parents who stayed in a dangerous area.
By the way, we can never know for sure the conditions a person will face in one country or another. Some live in barracks, while others live in comfortable houses. I remember that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, one Roma family went to the Czech Republic. When they were at the registration point where they were supposed to be accommodated, the staff refused to take them in when they saw that they were Roma. It was late at night, and the family with a small child was in despair. They called and didn’t know what to do. I got in touch with Roma activist Oleksandra Koriak, who knows how to solve such issues. She, in turn, called the reception point. Within minutes, the staff approached the Roma family, invited them inside, registered them, and provided accommodation.
However, it should be noted that I work in a region where people don’t reach out as often. In February-March, there were dozens of inquiries, and every day someone needed help or advice. But I don’t know the exact number of how many people we somehow helped; I didn’t keep count. The result is what matters to me, not the quantity.
I’m very pleased that people are now gearing up to achieve things on their own. As they say, without adversity, there is no happiness. Throughout our years of work, we’ve tried not just to hold their hand and do something for them but to teach them to survive, know their rights, and fight for opportunities. And now, finally, we see the results of this work. Roma are learning to be independent and solve their own problems. It’s worth its weight in gold.
I’m always in touch with those who left. They call all the time and ask, “When will the war end?” I say, “You’re in good conditions there, but in Ukraine, there’s no work now, everything has become more expensive, and there’s no electricity or heating.” And they reply, “So what? At least there’s a home there.” Everyone wants to go home – adults and children alike.
I remember the positive comments about Roma when they stole the Russian tank. Once I was walking down the street, and people came up to me, saying, “Oh, hi! Did your people steal that tank? Can you ask ‘your people’ to predict when that devil will die?” I joke, “Everyone’s doing just that all day long, everything will be fine.” And this really lifts their spirits. Belief gives people the strength to move forward.
I think a lot has changed in our society, and there will be many more transformations after the victory. Now, the thought often arises that Ukrainians now feel what Roma constantly feel. For instance, when they go abroad and encounter discrimination, misunderstanding. Now everyone knows that people can’t be divided based on some traits, or insulted. Stereotypes shouldn’t play a major role in our lives. A person should always remain a human being.
And our mediation after the war will change. The direction will be different because different problems will arise. For instance, we’ll be thinking about where people should return if they don’t have documents for housing or land. And what if there’s no housing left? How and for what to rebuild? Probably, there will be a specific program. And our values will be different. We will all look at each other with different eyes.
