Introducing Yuliia of the Citizens of Ukraine cast from our current ACHTUNG Nr. 44 “Beruhigt Euch Nicht!” issue.
Dress LUTZ HUELLE
ACHTUNG: How did you get to Berlin?
Yuliia: I left Odesa in a hurry. Together with my friends we passed the border to Moldova in two cars, five girls, where we settled in a camp. Later we went via Romania, Hungary, Austria to Berlin, where friends found some place to stay for us, provided a place to sleep in their homes for us. I am very grateful to them.
ACHTUNG: Why Berlin? What do you do now?
Yuliia: It was quite accidental. I just wanted to stay with the girls that had the same journey as I had and who supported me when I was very worried about the fact that my family stayed in Ukraine.
ACHTUNG: What did you do in Ukraine?
Yuliia: For the past five years I had my own brand for wedding dresses. Together with a friend we dressed hundreds of brides around the world. Because of the war, we had to stop. In Berlin, I have not found my own way yet. I guess for the most part I’m looking forward to getting home.
ACHTUNG: Where do you go to find hope?
Yuliia: Talking to my son gives me hope. He is 27 years old, and he stayed in Odesa. He firmly believes in our victory and does a lot to help our country. I support him with fundraising for the needs of the army and for humanitarian aid.
Sweater CLAUDIA SKODA; Pants DSQUARED2
ACHTUNG: What color has home?
Yuliia: Yellow and blue. The color of the wheat fields under the blue sky. And the color of the sand by the sea in my hometown.
ACHTUNG: The color of Berlin?
Yuliia: White. It’s hard to explain why. I guess it is because one of the first things I saw were the bright apartment buildings on the wide streets of East Berlin.
ACHTUNG: The one piece of clothes that you (brought with you and) would never give away?
Yuliia: A black denim overall.
ACHTUNG: Your favorite word in Ukrainian and what does it mean?
Yuliia: There is one special word: паляниця – Palayanytsya. Russians cannot pronounce it. This word is a marker for “friend or foe”. It just refers to a type of bread loaf but has already become legendary.
