In Moldova, I met a woman with a dangerous plan to save her life

During his travels for ABC iview's "Race Around The World," Australian filmmaker Elliot Constable encountered Tatiana in Chisinau, Moldova, a woman navigating the profound impacts of the war in Ukraine. Tatiana's story is one of displacement, resilience, and the constant threat of violence.

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Russian strikes are coming

Tatiana shared chilling updates about potential Russian strikes, receiving alerts from a communications app monitoring attacks against Ukraine. She recalled fleeing Kyiv in 2022 with her mother and pet bird, leaving behind her sisters and father due to martial law restrictions. The experience of the full-scale attack on Kyiv left her deeply affected, having witnessed unimaginable suffering, including a harrowing incident where she saw 30 people trapped inside a burning bus, feeling utterly helpless.

Their escape from Ukraine was fraught with peril. Tatiana and her mother, along with many other families, embarked on a chaotic journey towards the border. The roads were dangerous, with some vehicles veering into Russian positions. Families desperately tried to signal their presence, taping signs to their windows reading "children inside don't shoot," yet not all survived the exodus.

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There was nothing I could do to help.

Human trafficking posed a significant risk, particularly for women, in Moldova around the border areas. Despite these dangers, Tatiana and her mother successfully crossed and spent several years as refugees in Türkiye and Georgia before settling in Chisinau. Now, back in a coffee shop in Chisinau, Tatiana faces another daunting challenge: returning to Ukraine for cancer treatment, a situation that evokes a mix of shock, sadness, admiration, and shame in Constable, who finds himself unable to fully comprehend her reality.

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Russian p***** (Ukrainian slang for "f***ers")