A Ukrainian Refugee Speaks Out on War, Peace, and the Cost of Survival
Chris Odinaka Nwedo Reporting
Nearly a year ago, Stadt spoke with Ms.Kseniia Kosovtsova, a Ukrainian refugee who fled the devastated city of Kharkiv and resettled in Munich. Her account of fear, destruction, and survival offered a raw glimpse into the human toll of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, as global headlines shift and renewed peace negotiations — particularly those influenced by the Trump administration — take center stage, Stadt revisited Ksenia to ask: Has life improved? Are Ukrainians seeing any relief? And does talk of peace bring hope — or further uncertainty?
When asked whether conditions in Kharkiv have improved, Ms. Kosovtsova’s ’s answer was swift and stark: “Nothing has changed. The Shaheds [Iranian drones] and missiles still fly — sometimes alternately, sometimes together. After the U.S. elections, things even got worse.” She referenced disturbing new developments, including “information-psychological operations” involving weapons like the so-called “Oreshnik,” designed to sow fear and doubt about Ukraine’s air defenses. The bombardment of civilian infrastructure, homes, and public spaces continues. “My heart breaks for my city,” she said. “And I don’t even speak about the other regions. To absorb all this pain — no psychological or moral strength is enough.”
Despite the destruction, reconstruction efforts in Kharkiv have begun, and people are slowly returning. Ms. Kosovtsova acknowledged the resilience, but questioned the timing. “Yes, rebuilding is happening, and that’s good. But what’s the point if places get hit, rebuilt, and then hit again? It’s like an endless loop.” For her, the decision to return remains deeply personal and fraught with risk: “Anyone on Ukrainian territory is a target of that old madman in the Kremlin. Each person must choose whether to return now or later.”
Ms. Kosovtsova expressed deep skepticism about the role of the Trump administration in the peace process. “I haven’t seen any positive change. The Trump administration is disconnected from what’s actually happening in Ukraine. When he took office, humanitarian and military aid was halted. I lost faith in the U.S. after Trump’s inauguration.”
Even more troubling, she said, is the idea that peace could come at the cost of Ukrainian territory. “Never. Ukraine will never give up land for peace. We’re paying the highest price already. Losing territory would be like losing a loved one after losing your arms and legs. God forbid.”
While Ms. Kosovtsova voiced appreciation for continued European Union support — even noting an increase — she was sharply critical of Washington’s inconsistency. “The EU has remained supportive. But the U.S. under Trump has been manipulated by Putin, halting aid one day, restarting it the next. Trump is the clown — not Zelensky.”
On the ground, Ms. Kosovtsova believes the so-called “peace process” has had little to no effect. “Russia — or ‘country 404,’ as many call it — keeps terrorizing us. They don’t want the war to end. They’re raising even their young to believe they’ll one day fight to restore the Soviet Union. It’s terrifying — in the 21st century!”
Asked if peace talks have given her or others any renewed hope, Ksenia was blunt: “No. None. This is not a ‘conflict’ — it’s a war. You don’t negotiate with war. You bring the war to the ones who started it. Let the cockroaches scatter on their own soil.”
Her message to international leaders was passionate and urgent. “As long as our Armed Forces have strength, they defend not just Ukraine, but all of Europe. When that strength fades, Europe will have to rise — all of it. Russia isn’t as far as you think. They have missiles — just ask our military intelligence. So use your brains and stand up now, not when it’s too late.”
As our conversation ended, Ms. Kosovtsova’s voice was firm but fatigued. “The world may be tired of this war, but we live it every day. The negotiations may fill headlines, but for us — those who fled, those who stayed, those who fight — peace is not a deal at a table. It’s survival. It’s rebuilding. And it’s remembering.”
For Ukrainians like Ms. Kosovtsova, the war did not begin with a news cycle, and it will not end with one. As the world debates peace on paper, the human story of hope, loss, and resilience continues — in Kharkiv, in Munich, and in the hearts of millions still waiting to return home.
As we conclude this conversation, Ms. Kosovtsova’s reflections remind us that beyond political agreements and diplomatic talks, the human cost of war leaves deep and lasting scars. While negotiations may offer a path toward ending active hostilities, for those displaced, grieving, or living under the threat of attack, peace remains something far more personal and complex.
The world may be shifting its focus, but for Ukrainians like Ms. Kosovtsova, the story of survival, hope, and rebuilding is only just beginning.