USAID/Ukraine’s “New Pages of Ukrainian Heroism” campaign tells the stories of women who are making history, working behind the frontlines to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction. Follow the campaign @USAIDUkraine on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Lesya Nikityuk is a person of many talents. A preschool teacher by education, Lesya works as a TV presenter with Novy Kanal (“New Channel”) and as a volunteer. She is best known as the face of Le Marshrutka (“The Yellow Bus”), a television and Youtube series that features human stories from across Ukraine.
Lesya’s marshrutka, the bus that she and her team use to travel the country and elevate the voices of Ukrainians, was damaged during Russia’s early attacks on Kyiv. Over the summer, the team repaired the bus and relaunched the series, with an updated focus: they travel across Ukraine to highlight the work of volunteers who find creative, uniquely Ukrainian ways to support their communities and country during wartime.
With support from USAID, they visited a displaced farmer from Donetsk who has relocated to Volyn, a community in Poland that has opened its doors to Ukrainian refugees, and a children’s hospital in Dnipro, among many others. (This spring, they will visit liberated communities in Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv.)
As Lesya explains, these stories spread hope and perseverance:
“We share stories of people who survived the occupation, who did not give up, who were not broken by this war. They are an example for other people who need support.”
For her, the purpose is to shine a light on the unknown Ukrainian heroes who are defending and rebuilding the country, but also to bring joy and humor to those who have suffered because of the war.
“If I can make these people smile, share a good mood, feel some positive emotions or distract them from the sorrow that war brings even for a few minutes, I will do it! My life’s mission is to bring light during Ukraine’s darkest time.” she exclaims.
As we concluded our conversation, Lesya shared her vision for postwar Ukraine:
“I want to see many people come to Ukraine to visit this unbreakable nation, try Ukrainian cuisine, and see great cities rebuilt after suffering through the war’s most terrible battles … I want Ukrainian entrepreneurs and professionals to serve customers from the entire world, and for Ukrainian business to be represented in all domains across the globe again. I want Ukraine to be an example of democracy, courage, and strength.”
Her last message was the most powerful, and most bittersweet:
“And I want other countries to never have to know what war is.”
