Story of an Indonesian in Bucha amid War in Ukraine

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The urge to stay in Ukraine and remain by her husband’s side had worried Yanti or Lerepina Nadeak Girenko (39) who is an Indonesian citizen from North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, who had resided in the town of Bucha, Ukraine, for the past four years.

Yanti was initially advised by her husband to leave the country as the Indonesian Embassy embarked on an evacuation of its citizens during the early days of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. However, on February 25, Yanti chose to find shelter from Bucha to where her parents-in-law live near Kyiv. 

She recalled her 10-year old son who said that he loved her and said if death was a choice then he would rather face it together with his mother, father, and sibling. Which she said sealed her decision to stay. 

“Mama, I love papa, mama, and brother. I can not be away from papa and mama. If I could choose, I would like to live with my mom, dad, and brother. And if death faces us, I want us to die together so none of us will suffer anymore if we’re together,” Yanti recalled what her son said to her to Tempo on Thursday, April 7.

The Indonesian initially lived in Kyiv from 2008 until 2010 when she married a local man, Sergii Girenko. They had lived in Bucha since 2018. Both are blessed with two sons: Denis (10) and Mikolay (7). Sergii Girenko is currently volunteering in the Ukrainian army. 

Sounds of bombs exploding, firearms blasted, and helicopters flying by from the direction of Gostomel which is nearby Bucha are the things she has to face in her journey to her parents-in-law’s house located 1.5 hours from Bucha. 

"During the heat of the invasion of Kyiv, my mother-in-law and I helped the military defenses and people who needed help. Such as cooking food, which would later be shipped, assembling rags to cover the border defenses of the area where we live today,” said Yanti in describing her current daily activity. 

Bucha is now shattered after Russian forces attacked the town. International news agencies reported on April 3 on the finding of alleged mass killings of civilians as bodies lay across the town’s streets. 

“It would be difficult for me to return there. This incident will haunt me for the rest of my life,” she said. 

Seeing the current situation, Yanti hopes that Ukraine will soon be free and the people are free to live in their own sovereignty. She called for an immediate stop to the war and assures us that there are no nazi groups in the country she currently call home, as it was used by Russia to justify the invasion. 

Over one month from the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin denied allegations of war crimes that happened in Bucha. Western countries have strongly condemned Russia for this incident and imposed more sanctions against the country. 

Read: Indonesia Supports UN Investigation over Massacre in Bucha

DANIEL AHMAD