They have traveled over a hundred miles to find sanctuary for a week. 40-odd Ukrainian children get the chance for a summer camp outside Karlskrona in a twinning partnership.
– Here you can go to bed and sleep all night, says 13-year-old Kristina Lastivka from Chortkiv, who for a week will be free from disturbing flight alarms.
The summer patrol in Blekinge gives the children from Karlskrona’s twin town of Chortkiv in western Ukraine a break from the everyday life of war in their homeland.
-One night there were between two and four airplane alarms and I had difficulty sleeping until 4 a.m. Because of airplane alarms, you are stressed and get a headache and don’t sleep enough, but here you can go to bed and sleep all night, says Kristina Lastivka.
Thousands were traumatized for life
Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, 14 million people have been forced to flee airstrikes and bombs. Close to 500 children have died in the war, far more have been injured and traumatized for the rest of their lives. The summer camp in Sweden gives 40-odd children whose parents have died or been injured by the war the opportunity for a week’s refuge.
– Everything is great and exciting here. Today we are going swimming, there are trampolines and swings here, says 11-year-old Matvij Krasnoshtan.
Show goodness in the world
The camp week is a twinning cooperation between Karlskrona and Chortkiv. The Ukrainian children’s days are filled with activities that local associations, companies and local residents have contributed to, and the hope is that the camp will provide a break from the everyday life of war, new friends and show that there is goodness in the world.
– I really like being here. I would love to stay even two weeks, but unfortunately that is not possible, concludes Kristina Lastivka.