Mother of 3 who filmed videos from Kyiv bomb shelter now safe in U.S. with her family

Before Russia's war onUkraine began a year ago, Olena Gnes was a YouTube vlogger and tour guide in Kyiv.

For Gnes, herpassion was helping people from around the world discover Ukraine.

Then, on Feb. 24, 2022,Russia launched its assault on Ukraine and Gnes rushed into a makeshift bomb shelter with her three children, the youngest just four months old.

In the meantime, Gnes's husband signed up to volunteer with the Territorial Defence Forcesto help defend their country.

CBC News in Ukraine: This week, join The National hosted by CBC's chief correspondent, Adrienne Arsenault, in Kyiv. Watch at 9 p.m. ET on CBC News Network, 10 p.m. on CBC TV, and streaming on CBC Gem and CBC News Explore.

As thousands of people fled Ukraine, Gnes stayed to inform the world about what was happening. She started speaking to media from the bomb shelter. Her first interview with CBC'sRosemary Barton Live wasin March, just 11 days into the war.

With the first anniversary of the Russian invasion looming,Gneswas interviewed againby Rosemary Barton Livethis time, Gneswas speaking from the U.S., whereher family relocated in November.

"Back then, the situation was very intense,"Gnes, 36, said Sunday, recallingthe early days of the war."The Russian tanks were moving towards my home. The bombs were falling on my homeand it was very shocking."

Gnes spent most of her time in the shelter, only heading back to her apartment quickly to shower or get food for her children. On some days, she wasn't sure if they would survive the night.

How the war impacted her children

Gnesand her family arenow safe in the U.S., staying with a host family in Georgia. She said several factors contributed to her decision to leave Ukraine in November.

"My husband was demobilized, and my children, their mental health was really bad. By September,I saw how much they were traumatized by the war."

WATCH | Olena Gnes speaks in March 2022 abouther husband as she and their children were in a Ukraine bomb shelter:

Mother of 3 speaks from bomb shelter in Kyiv

2 years ago

Duration 1:00

CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Olena Gnes about life in a bomb shelter and how difficult it is to have her husband fighting in the war in Ukraine.

Gnessaidher children Katya, 8, Taras, 6 and Daryna, 1 arein therapy and still afraid of loud noises.

She said the childrenmake bomb shelters under their beds because they don't trust that the war is really over and it will never happen in the U.S.

"They lost their trust in humanity."

Helping Ukrainians survive the winter

In recent weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyyurged the United Nations Security Council to act against Russia over airstrikes on civilian infrastructure that plunged Ukrainian cities into darkness and cold.

Even while living in the U.S., Gnes is trying to help those who remainin Ukraine. She's an ambassador for the Foundation for United Nation'sSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whichlaunched a campaign to purchase generators, rechargeable lights and power stations to help Ukrainians survive the winter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "was weaponizing winter. He was hitting critical infrastructure. Hewanted to attack my country to be in full darkness and just to be frozen to death," according to Gnes.

As the one-year anniversary of Russia's war on Ukraine approaches, Gnes remains hopeful about the future of her country.

"I am determined.I still believe that Ukraine will win," she said. But she also wonders how much more time will pass before that may happen.