Stories from Ukraine: Anton Rudko

We are excited to bring you more stories of our incredible Preply team members from Ukraine, and today, we’d love to introduce you to Anton Rudko, our Customer Support Team Lead. Beyond his seamless communication with Preply learners, Anton is also a passionate Gestalt therapist who runs his own TikTok channel to help Ukrainians process the ongoing war.

On February 24th, I woke up just five minutes before I heard the first explosion. Couldn’t get back to sleep, so I grabbed some water, glanced out the window, and tried to catch a few more winks. Soon after, a couple more explosions shook me, and then my aunt called, informing me that the war had started, with Russians bombing major Ukrainian cities. It was hard to believe initially; my hands shook, and my heart raced. I took a sedative, pondered my next steps, and thought about getting out of Kyiv to a safer place.

War trauma is a lasting wound that will take centuries to heal. The intensity and breadth of emotions are too much for one person’s psyche to hold. Ukrainians are developing their own coping mechanisms to shield themselves from the brutal reality. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed more people suffering from depression and anxiety, while soldiers return with severe PTSD symptoms, and society struggles to accept them. It’s a challenging reality, but the government is working on expanding psychological rehabilitation programs. Personally, I apply known techniques when I feel low and regularly visit my psychotherapist.

Despite the devastation of war, it’s brought Ukrainians together as a nation. I’ve been inspired by those who fearlessly took to the streets against the occupiers, facing tanks without weapons. We’ve found unity and genuine care for each other. Ukrainians are stepping up with even more volunteering, and everyone pitches in as much as they can. It’s this spirit that motivates us toward victory.