Anastasiia Kostenko, 17, lives in Kyiv where captured Russian tanks and daily minutes of silence mark the ongoing war. Sirens warn of imminent missile attacks and the conflict alters daily rhythm and working conditions. Despite the constant presence of war, personal life includes parks, street food, book cafes, and a cherished bedroom sanctuary. Her room contains schoolbooks, science competition badges, a stuffed toy, and paintings inspired by travels such as Venice. She paints travel memories, but Kyiv remains her favorite place. Kyiv's history spans millennia and hosts some 3.5 million inhabitants along the Dnieper, with abundant green spaces.
For Anastasiia Kostenko, war is an everyday part of life. The 17-year-old lives in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, where captured Russian tanks line the city's historic St. Michael's square, a daily minute of silence pays tribute to the war dead and sirens pierce the air when a Russian missile attack is imminent. "The war has influenced us a lot. It changes our pace of life, the conditions in which we work," Kostenko explains about the conflict now stretching into its third year.
The war also feels far away in her room. As it is for many teenagers, it's her favorite place at home. Her desk is scattered with schoolbooks, science competition badges and a stuffed toy dog perching on her sofa. The artwork in her room includes a painting she did herself, showing Venetian gondolas on still water, the iconic Rialto Bridge in the background.
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