Twenty-year-old Valeria Shashenok rose to reputation when she began documenting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Tik Tok ultimate February.
From electrical energy blackouts to grocery store shortages and bombed constructions, greater than one million folks have adopted Valeria’s tales on Tik Tok, as she used the social media channel to inform the tales of on a regular basis existence in Ukraine.
“I am part of a generation that was born with a phone in their hands, so when the war broke out I decided to start making videos about living in a bomb shelter with my family,” explains Valeria in a video name with Euronews.
As neatly as posting severe content material, humour turned into Valeria’s secret weapon on-line. In one in all her viral movies filmed in a bunker along with her circle of relatives, she places a warmth gun to the check as a hairdryer.
“I was inspired by the ‘things that make sense in Italy’ Tik Tok trend, where users film funny clips of everyday life — I decided to do the same but for the war in Ukraine”.
Valeria, who may be a photographer, has now gathered a following of 150,000 folks on Instagram along with her Tik Tok enthusiasts.
Her target market comprises digital-native Gen Z-ers, in addition to a brand new set of audience she attracted on-line.
“I got messages from people in their sixties and seventies saying they had made a Tik Tok account just to watch me!”.
Fleeing Ukraine
Valeria fled Ukraine 10 months in the past now. In September, she returned to peer her circle of relatives who nonetheless are living in Chernihiv, a the city just about the Russian border, situated in northern Ukraine.
“Being back home was so special, they were the best two months of my life.”
“I miss my family, they are all physically together — but I know that mentally they are are very damaged. Last year my uncle’s house was totally destroyed by a bomb — the war is a reality for them.”
Despite her upbeat angle and heat smiles, the warfare in Ukraine has taken a toll on Valeria.
“I try to always stay positive in life but deep down I am hurting. Sometimes I feel crazy angry or so sad, I never knew I could feel emotions like this,” she says.
After spending a while in Italy and Germany, Valeria determined she sought after to settle in UK — a want which used to be granted by means of one in all her fans.
“A follower replied to an Instagram story I posted about searching for a room. I am now living with his lovely family in London and have been granted a three-year visa to stay in the UK”.
Life clear of Ukraine
Since leaving Ukraine, Valeria has used social media platform to percentage her existence as a tender refugee navigating her method throughout Europe.
During the fall she used to be even invited to excursion the European Parliament in Strasbourg and meet Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska.
“We didn’t really get to speak but I got a picture! I really feel she is a role model for young women as she is so confident and doing such important work. I follow her on Instagram and I have watched every single interview of her with President Zelenskyy,” Valeria confesses with a chortle.
As for the longer term, Valeria has put her large goals of changing into a manner photographer on cling for now.
“I always wanted to be a photographer for Vogue but now I hope to move back to Ukraine and help rebuild my country. I hope the war will end this year,” she says with a sigh — earlier than clenching her arm to the digital camera in a display of power.
