Ivanka Krypyakevych-Dymyd: “I live in the reality of victory” 

War changes everything. It takes away what is dearest from people. It breaks some, tempers others, and reveals the true faces of friends. Everyone spoke of this mother's resilience, as one who sang the last lullaby before her son's coffin. Her pain united all of Ukraine, engulfed in the fires of war. Her testimony spread across networks, eliciting sympathy, admiration, and global solidarity. The tragedy she endured and her family's response to this calamity have become a symbol embedded in our perception, embodied in the image of a Ukrainian mother who accepted her son's death with dignity and pride for his valor.
A very special guest of the project “Little Stories of a Big War” is Ivanka Krypyakevych-Dymyd: a priest's wife, mother of five, volunteer, artist, and a woman who is deeply moved by the beauty of the world and love for people. Of course, one conversation cannot capture the depth of experiences and changes a woman undergoes when losing her child. This is a story of a soul's cry, of seeking answers, of acceptance, brotherhood, and the role of those upon whom you can rely, and the emerging creativity of the human spirit- of the Ukrainian spirit.
The example of Ivanka Krypyakevych-Dymyd is invaluable as it helps other mothers endure the horror of loss. Her interview within the “Little Stories of a Big War” project is an attempt to discuss inner experiences, creative exploration during wartime, reevaluation of priorities, and the unchanging life principles that help sustain through these frightening days for every Ukrainian. At its heart, it is about transitioning to eternity, and about ordinary people acting in superhuman capacity on the frontlines who already enable us to live in the reality of victory. The conversation is led by historian and UCU lecturer Olena Dzhedzora.
The interview was recorded on July 5, 2022, 17 days after the death of Ivanka's son, Artemiy Dymyd, on the frontlines.
“Little Stories of a Big War” in English:
warinua.ucu.ed...
“Little Stories of a Big War” in Ukrainian
ucu.edu.ua/cat...