Tiya

Tiya is a young woman from Makiyivka, Ukraine, whose life has been profoundly affected by the ongoing conflict and occupation of her homeland. Growing up in an area under the control of the self-proclaimed 'DPR', she completed her schooling without any exposure to the Ukrainian educational program, instead absorbing a narrative shaped by Soviet-style propaganda. Initially indifferent to her Ukrainian identity, her perspective shifted significantly following the protests in Belarus in 2020, prompting her to embrace her cultural roots. In 2023, after years of living in an environment hostile to her identity, Tiya successfully relocated to a Ukrainian-controlled territory, where she has begun to explore her heritage and history more freely.