‘I’m Ukrainian in Israel – I’ve survived two invasions in two years and I’m 25’
Stefania Stavytska, 25, woke up early on October 7 with a nauseous feeling of deja vu.
For the second time in 18 months, terror coursed through her entire body, triggered by the sound of screeching sirens.
The video producer thought she’d left the wrath of war behind when she left Kyiv after Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine.
But her short reprieve was violated by Hamas as the vile group launched more than a thousand missiles into Israel – including in Jaffa, the port city 68 km north of the Gaza Strip where Stefania lives.
The terrorists shattered her illusion of normal life in Israel – even destroying a bar in Tel Aviv where she worked part-time.
But it wasn’t just bombs that added to a deep feeling of paranoia. She said she heard locals of Arabian descent cheering and rejoicing in the street as Hamas infiltrated the city.
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Stefania told the Kyiv Post: “It’s strange to experience the outbreak of war for the second time in different countries when you are only 25.”
At the time of Hamas’ attack, there were 14,000 Ukrainians listed as living in Israel – although that number has probably plummeted.
Among these is also Anastasiia Moshkina, 29, an IT specialist living in Petah Tikva. Residents in the town now live in fear of strikes from the Gaza Strip in the south, and Lebanon in the north.
Anastasia’s neighbour is from Mariupol, a city which was besieged for three months before it fell into Russian hands in May 2022.
“She’s in shock,” Anastasiia said. “It’s a horrific wave of terror.”
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Stefania’s resilience against Hamas
Stefania says she has a missing friend who she thinks may have been one of those either killed or abducted from the Supernova electronic dance music festival during Hamas’ multi-pronged attack.
The venue where she works part-time was closed immediately after the attack but reopened.
Despite her trauma, she continues to work “no matter what”. She said: “There is nowhere to go, all the countries around are enemies (of Israel).”
Many living in Tel Aviv are concerned about the deepening involvement of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terror group who have been fighting Israel Defense Forces along the Lebanese border.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday warned it “would be a serious mistake” for Hezbollah, Iran and their proxies to enter the war.
The British Foreign Office has updated its travel guidance to Lebanon, advising against all travel to the country and encouraging British nationals currently there to “leave now while commercial options remain available”.
At least 13 people have been killed within a 2.5-mile radius of either side of the Lebanon-Israel border since clashes last Saturday.
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