After nine years of fighting in the east and two years of full-scale war, children in Ukraine are struggling to cope with the constant threat of bombardment and overwhelming stress.
Nika, an 11-year-old who lives with her mother in an apartment building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, shares her story in a video diary of life in a war zone.
Two years of remote school, sleepless nights during shelling attacks, bombed out buildings where favorite stores used to be - the pressures of daily life pile up quickly for Nika and her friends.
Activities like baking cookies with her mother and going to music class help Nika handle the pressure as she looks forward to a better future, without soldiers and fear.
"I believe that bright days will come and we will live in peace," she says.
Subscribe to UNICEF USA's KZread Channel for the latest updates.
To learn more about UNICEF and UNICEF USA, visit: www.unicefusa.org
Read our stories about UNICEF in action: www.unicefusa.org/stories
Follow UNICEF USA here:
Instagram: / unicefusa
Twitter: / unicefusa
Facebook: / unicef-usa