Olene's sad first face of war in Ukraine

On the fourth anniversary of the launch of Ukraine's full Russian occupation, Olena Kurylo, the 52-year-old teacher who became internationally known as its first “war face, speaks of her return to Chukhuiv after about a year and a half, her memories of February 24th 2022, and challenges Vladimir Putin to meet her.

Her picture, injured by the Russian bombings, her bloody face and her bandaged head, became viral. U.S. documentary photographer Wolfgang Soan seized her moments after emergencies gave her first aid. Her appearance reflected confusion, shock and inability to understand what had just happened.

A month later, the painting of artist Zehenya Gerschman “First Face of War”, based on that photograph, was sold at the American auction house “Herage Auctions” for $100,000. Revenues went to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, another war was beginning for him - the restoration of sight.

Olena stayed abroad for more than a year, undergoing a total of four operations. The cost of treatment and accommodation was covered by citizen donations, while the support of the British newspaper “Daily Mail”, which had published its photo, was considerable. She first went to Poland and then to London, where she underwent the fourth operation.

She lived in London as part of the “programme Houses for Ukrainian”, organized by a family that hosted him in a three - story house, with all its ease. Despite good conditions and the offer to stay, she wanted to return to her homeland. “goes as a tourist and it's beautiful. But live forever? I didn't see the logic of”, she says. On June 16, 2023, her treatment in Poland ended, and two days later she boarded the Przeysl-Kharkiv train headed for Ukraine.

To thank the family for hosting her, she cooked traditional Ukrainian dishes, such as borscht, daniki, and pancakes.

The effects of the injury on February 24, 2022, remain a difficult memory. A Russian rocket hit the courtyard of a 5-story building in Chukhuiv Airfield, triggering a fire. 13-year-old Anton Tarasenko was killed, the first victim of the Russian-wide invasion of the Kharkiv region. Many residents were injured, including Olene.

Today, she can see 30% in one eye and 80% in the other. The retina in one eye had been partially cut, while glass fragments hit the raven. She needs regular medical monitoring. As she describes, there are difficulties climbing stairs, unable to read and use audio books. It has also suffered a double fracture on its arm after a fall.

Besides sight, it has problems with kidneys and stomachs because of long - term medicines and frequent ear infections. She also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. I dream of explosions every night. I just want to sleep”, she says.

If I had the chance to meet Putin face to face and look him in the eye, I wouldn't have feared”, she says. “But would it be courageous enough for something like that? I would tell him everything I think of”, she added, continuing that Putin “is not human. He will enter history in such a way that future generations will curse”.

After her return in 2023, she was looking for a way to be useful. Today, she works as a project manager in the organisation's “State Protection” in Chukhuiv. The organisation's mission is to provide free legal assistance to military personnel, veterans released from captivity, families of missing persons and other vulnerable groups. Psychological support is also planned for the near future.

Locals often know him. Her face has even appeared on a billboard in town. However, it avoids sharing its history on social networks. I don't want to be special. I want a normal life”, she says.

Currently, she lives in a village several miles from Chukhuiv, since her apartment, which was damaged by missile attacks, has not yet been fully restored due to lack of money. She says it's hard to stay there: “Hy in there and remember where I was wounded. It's hard emotionally” She hopes to return when the war is over. When there is peace. And I hope it'll be this year”, it's over. /Peri