Anastasia Korepanova 14, female from Kharkiv

My name is Nastya, I’m 14 years old, and I’m from Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. Before the war, I was very active—I played the violin, practiced acrobatic rock and roll, and enjoyed sewing, English, and creative activities. After a sports injury, I found a new passion in Kudo, which I now train in along with my younger brother Artem, who is 9.

My parents, Anna and Vasyl, are both in the military—my mother is a nurse and my father is an officer. When the war began, my brother and I were separated from them and spent two months in a temporarily occupied area with our grandmother. Later, we reunited in Kharkiv, where I helped my mother care for the wounded while continuing my studies, even under shelling.

Now we live in a safer place, but my parents are often away due to their service. I stay focused by training in Kudo and studying English. I miss our family traditions—bike rides, snowball fights, and weekend breakfasts—but I remain hopeful. I look forward to new experiences and growing through every challenge.