Kira is now 5 years old. She comes from one of the most bombarded cities during the current war in eastern Ukraine. When the war started, Kira’s family lived for 8 days in the basement. Kira was very scared, especially when those loud explosions happened nearby. Kira had to celebrate her fifth birthday on March 1 in that basement. There were a lot of people there, everyone treated her with what they could. It was the first birthday without a cake and without a gift. My parents had promised me a dress and just before the war my mother bought me a beautiful dress, but I never had a chance to put it on. Our evacuation was so urgent that we did not have the opportunity to go home and pick up our things. Before the war I went to kindergarten. I really miss my friends and teachers there. In 2023, I will go to school in the first grade, I hope that in my native city! I have a sister. She did rhythmic gymnastics (before the war), and I want to do cheerleading. But most of all I want to go home! I want the war to end. Recently, my sister and I wrote letters to Santa, asking for peace. I hope Santa gets our letters. I wish all children in the world would never know war!