One female referee who made history is now sharing her haunting experience in Ukraine as Russia inches closer to invading the capital city of Kyiv.
Maryna Striletska who served as a lineswoman for the United Kingdom’s 5-0 win over opponents Andorra is now shedding light on what it really feels like living in Ukraine.
At the moment, the young woman says she’s stranded in Ukraine and can’t help but feel haunted and terrorized over the ongoing conflict and attacks that occur on a daily basis.
“The Russians have invaded my home country. I have nowhere to go. The thoughts of innocent civilians being killed on a daily basis is terrorizing”- she went on to explain.
In the same way, she also spoke about how chilling some situations become, especially when you can literally hear tanks rolling in.
“The sound of loud gunfire and explosions fill the air. I don’t know what to make of it sometimes, you’d be lucky to come out of this turmoil alive”- she stated.
In the same way, she says that soldiers have even looted her home and sometimes the emotional trauma is more than she can bear.
Despite serving as a referee for one iconic world cup qualifier, her life today is not something she would have ever wished upon her worst enemy.
“Life is so different today. So many people don’t realize it but my world looks very different now”- she says.
The daily horror of bombs dropping in from the sky is a reality that the country must live with and she’s no exception.
“I keep still on the floor of my basement. That is where I sleep, that is what my life has been restricted to”- she concluded.
Many innocent Ukrainians like this young woman are waiting for a miracle as Russian troops come closer by the second in terms of launching another major unexpected attack.