Exclusive:
Vladyslav Piatin-Ponomarenko, a Mariupol resident, witnessed first-hand Vladimir Putin’s “attempt to erase our traditions, culture and identity” following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine
A 17-year-old Ukrainian heartbreakingly watched “people burn alive in their homes” and “starve to death” as Vladimir Putin wanted Kyiv to be “erased from existence.”
Vladyslav Piatin-Ponomarenko, a Mariupol resident, witnessed first-hand the Russian leader’s “attempt to erase our traditions, culture and identity” following the devastating destruction caused by the dictator.
Vladyslav, who was just 17-years-old at the time, released a heart-breaking documentary based on the video journal he kept under occupation in Mariupol for 75 days. He documented the “relentless terror” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which has seen 6.9 million Ukrainian refugees registered worldwide following the war, according to the United Nations’ refugee agency.
The Mariupol resident told The Mirror: “Everything around was destroyed; the hospital was on fire; bodies lay everywhere. People burned alive in their homes, starved to death, had no access to water, electricity, or medical aid. I documented what I saw: relentless terror, bodies in the streets, families torn apart. This was not just a siege—it was an attempt to erase the city from existence. To erase our memories, our reality”
“We do not want our traditions, culture, language, and identity to be erased. But that is exactly what Russia is trying to do. They despise everyone who is different from them. Have you even heard how openly they talk about wanting to kill Europeans and Americans? They don’t just hate you—they look down on you. They see themselves as superior. They want to erase other cultures and impose their own barbaric ideology. I’ve been there. I saw it firsthand. These are terrifying people.”
The documentary-maker, who is now 19, hit out at US president Donald Trump’s comments claiming Ukraine “should never have started the war” and could have “made a deal” to avert the conflict. Vladyslav witnessed the horror of the invasion and is dumbfounded the US is “even considering negotiating” with a regime that “tortures” its own people.
He added: “How can a country that claims to stand for freedom and democracy even consider negotiating with a regime that tortures its own citizens, kidnaps Ukrainian children, and openly dreams of expanding its empire through violence? Russia doesn’t seek peace—it seeks domination. It doesn’t respect other nations—it seeks to erase them.So why are Western leaders still pretending they can reason with a country that thrives on destruction?
“Putin is a dictator who destroys his own people, who murders Ukrainians—because he simply doesn’t care. Russia has abandoned all principles of a civilised society. They kill and imprison LGBTQ+ people. They are openly racist toward anyone they see as “lesser.” And yet, the US still entertains dialogue with them.”
The teenager, who is furious with Trump calling President Zlenksy a “dictator”, said the war is about “defending our traditions, values, and our culture” which Russia wants to “erase.”
Vladyslav admitted it was “better to die a hero than to perish in Russian torture.” He added: ” In Ukraine, we have a culture thousands of years old—something the U.S. lacks. We are defending our traditions, our values, our language, and our culture. And once again, Russia wants to erase them. A dictator is someone who suppresses Chechens, Dagestanis, and Belarusians—not a democratically elected leader defending his nation.”
An exhibition of War Diaries of Ukrainian Children is currently on display at Chatham House in London, with the exhibition aiming to tell unique stories and highlight the deep trauma of the young generation of Ukraine.
