„The dream of peace in Ukraine remains alive, although the war has changed the destinies of people, cities and entire generations". This was stated by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria Olesya Ilashchuk to "Nova TV".
The diplomat said that during her recent short visit to Ukraine she saw a country that has been profoundly changed. „Absolutely everything has changed - the people, the cities, life. The only thing that has not disappeared is the dream of peace. It is more painful, but also much more resilient“, she emphasized.
According to her, the symbols of normal life before the war today carry a different meaning. High-rise apartments with a view of the city, once a matter of prestige, are now among the main targets of missile attacks. “Children have changed, families have changed. We change with every minute of survival”, Ilashchuk also said.
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The ambassador said that he cherishes the memory of peaceful Ukraine, but also preserves every memory of the four years of the full-scale Russian invasion. “These memories help us fight and defend our freedom – freedom, which the enemy is encroaching on us not for the first time“, she said.
Ilashchuk also spoke about the personal cost of the war. “I lost relatives, we lost the children of our friends. There is not a single family in Ukraine that has not been touched by this war“, she said.
According to the ambassador, the humanitarian situation in the country remains extremely difficult. Millions of people are without access to water and electricity, and in many regions the infrastructure is seriously damaged. “For elderly people with limited mobility, this is a real catastrophe. Housing becomes uninhabitable, both children and adults suffer. In some places, even the sewage system stops working“, she stressed.
Children often do not have the opportunity to study either at home or at school, and animals also suffer from the cold and lack of care. “This is all that the so-called “Russian peace“ brings,“ the ambassador said.
According to her, for more than 1,400 days of full-scale war, Russia has not achieved its strategic goals. In 2025 alone, about 60,000 guided aerial bombs, nearly 2,400 missiles and over 100,000 strike drones were fired at Ukraine, and the air alert signal was triggered almost 20,000 times. “The infrastructure is exhausted and destroyed, but we remain resilient“, she said.
Ilashchuk stressed that territories are not a commodity for exchange. “This is not just a piece of land, but the fate of people. Giving up the occupied territories would be a betrayal of those who are waiting for the return of Ukraine,“ she said.
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The ambassador also commented on the diplomatic efforts to end the war, expressing hope that talks with the participation of US President Donald Trump will lead to lasting peace. “We believe that he can convince Vladimir Putin to stop the bombings – not for a week, but forever”, she said.
Among the key conditions for peace, Ilashchuk highlighted security guarantees, deterrence of future aggression and Ukraine's membership in the European Union. She expressed gratitude to Bulgaria for its consistent support and participation in EU and NATO initiatives.
“Memories from before the war and the present will remain with me forever. I believe that future memories will be more peaceful and happier“, said Olesya Ilashchuk.