The daughter of the famous Ukrainian linguist and politician Irina Farion and the widow of the defender of Ukraine Vasily Osoba who died at the front, Sofia Osoba, has been desperately fighting for justice for two years in the case of the brutal murder of her mother.. Terrible trials, threats and hate did not break her, but on the contrary, made her stronger than ever.

– Sofia, many Ukrainians know you as a strong woman. What are you like when you are alone with yourself – After heavy losses – my mother and husband – life forced me to become strong as a stone. I remember the words of Irina Farion: “I wish you willpower! And if they get you, then you need to fly higher!

When I'm alone with myself, I'm first and foremost a mother.. I have wonderful children - Evunya and Dmitrik, who are the meaning of my life. It is next to them that I rest my soul, I can be a reliable support for them, a friend and just a person who loves endlessly and gives warmth.

Of course, when there is silence, I think about the tragedies that changed my destiny forever. But at the same time, I understand: my resilience and inner strength come from my mother.. It was she who taught me to behave with dignity even when it hurts the most.

– What are your personal hobbies Are you reading anything right now “Right now I’m completely focused on fighting for a life sentence for my mom’s killer.”. Perhaps someday the moment will come when I can talk more about my hobbies. In fact, I really like to go out with friends, spend time with children, listen to music or just be in silence. But I don’t have that old lightness... I believe that over time I will be able to feel life to the full again.

– What helps you hold on and find strength during grueling court hearings – The trial for the brutal murder of my mother has been going on for two years.. More than 75 meetings took place. This is an extremely painful journey - to relive terrible moments again and again, to hear things that literally tear your soul apart.. But at the same time, this is my duty and the fight for a fair punishment for the murderer - for his life imprisonment.

What keeps me going? First of all - mom. I feel her presence in my every action, in my struggle, in every word.. It’s as if she gives me strength from heaven not to break. The support of friends and people who remain close in the most difficult moments is also extremely important.. I understand: this is my personal path, and I must go through it with dignity - for the sake of the memory of my mother, who laid in me a strong foundation of love for my native land, for Ukraine and deep respect for our Heroes.

– What threats or hate do you face How do you react to this? – I don’t react in any way to threats or hate, because I’m simply not afraid of it. But I want to emphasize: each of us should feel protected in our own God-given land. It is no longer possible to intimidate me or break me under pressure, because I know my truth..

Supporters of the accused Zinchenko allow themselves threats and hatred - but this is only evidence of their insignificant consciousness and perverted values. This is the worldview of people who are ready to sell their souls to the devil. The biggest problem is that until such evil is fairly punished, it will continue to germinate. And the relevant authorities should pay attention to this, because this is not only about me, but also about the safety of the entire Ukrainian society.

– What public reaction struck you most after these tragic events – The funeral of my mother, Irina Farion, became a real manifesto of the nation, a symbol of Ukrainian nationalism and the struggle for the native language as the foundation of the state. This was the first murder of a woman in the modern history of Ukraine - a famous public figure, nationalist, scientist and professor.. After those tragic events, my life stopped twice: on July 19 at 23:20, when my mother’s soul went to God, and on October 6, when I learned about the death of my husband, the defender of Ukraine Vasily Osobi. This pain cannot be described in any words. At the same time, I was struck by the enormous support of Ukrainians: friends, military, my mother’s comrades. Without these people I simply would not be able to live on.. Without my mother's friend Oksana Mikityuk, to whom I trust my most intimate thoughts, this path would have been much more difficult for me.. Her support, wisdom and humanity became a reliable support in the darkest periods of life.. These are the people today who stand side by side with me in the fight for Ukrainian Ukraine - the state for which the best fought and gave their lives..

– Which famous cultural figure supported you and pleasantly surprised you For example, Ukrainian artist Bogdan Andrukh dedicated the song “In the Voices of Descendants” to your mother.. – The scale of this support turned out to be so huge that I didn’t even expect. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who was there during the most difficult moments of my life.. I don’t want to single out anyone, because all this solidarity is what Ukrainians are, this is the real code of our nation.

However, creative manifestations of memory are especially moving. Bogdan Andrukh’s song “In the Voices of Descendants” now constantly sounds in my head. For me, she became a symbol of the fact that today all conscious Ukrainians have turned into the voice of Irina Farion - a voice that not only sounds, but acts in the name of the national idea and the fight for the preservation of their native language.

– Which Ukrainian performers do you admire – I love music very much - it fills, gives strength and emotionally supports in the most difficult moments. I am especially close to the work of artists whose songs contain the Ukrainian national idea, the struggle for our identity, memory and boundless love for our land..

I listen to songs by Igor Belozir, Irina Fedyshyn, DOMIY, the groups “Komu Vniz” and “Shadow of the Sun”. Each of them has their own special energy, but they are all united by devotion to the Ukrainian word. Ukrainian music today makes an extremely important contribution to the fight for our state. It shapes consciousness, strengthens the spirit, helps to overcome the pain of loss and reminds us of who we are.. Through music, the memory of Heroes, love for the native language and the indestructible strength of the nation are conveyed. It is culture that is one of the main foundations of our identity and spiritual resistance.

– What are your fondest memories of your mother that help you overcome the most difficult moments – The warmest memories of my mother are her boundless love, voice, hugs, our long conversations and those simple family evenings that have become priceless today. I often remember how she tenderly called me “Sofiyarochka”, how she taught me to be strong, take care of my dignity and love Ukraine above all else..

Mom adored her grandchildren – Evunya and Dmitry. They were the greatest happiness and light in her life.. Her care and warmth remain with us forever.. There are things that I will never tell anyone about, because these are our secrets with my mother.. They are the ones who support me today and are my support in the most difficult moments of my life.. – Your husband Vasily Osoba went to the front and died defending Ukraine. Where do you, as a woman, find internal resources and strength to live on – My husband voluntarily stood up to defend Ukraine. It was his conscious and firm choice. He was an exemplary warrior, always supported his brothers-in-arms and remained loyal to Ukraine until his last breath..

Our children, Evunya and Dmitrik, give me the strength to move on.. They miss dad very much, and it is for their sake that I have to be strong. The memory of Vasily and his worthy deed every day give me the inner strength not to break..

– Recently, in Lviv – and in general in many rear cities – due to the large number of internally displaced persons, the Russian language is increasingly heard in public space. For many, this issue is quite sensitive.. How do you personally react to this Do you experience internal resistance and do you make comments to people – When I hear the Russian language, I turn on the FIENKA song “Beat the Moskal” and tell the children that this is the language of the enemy.

– What would you like to say to parents whose children were born after the start of the full-scale invasion, but at home they still hear Russian speech, watch Russian cartoons, and on their birthday they are entertained by animators in Masha and the Bear costumes Is there any chance at all for this generation to grow up exclusively Ukrainian-speaking – Let’s be worthy of our Heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine! After all, the enemy came not just to seize territories, but also to destroy the very foundation of the nation - language, culture, church and our identity. Mom always said: “When all of Ukraine speaks Ukrainian, then victory will come.”. And I feel it deeply. I don't want my children to hear the language of the enemy on the streets of their country. After all, it was in this language that the occupier gave orders to kill their dad and our defenders.

– Sofia, you have had terrible trials, but you have not given up: you continue to fight, keep the memory of your family and raise two children on your own. What words of support would you like to say to all Ukrainians who have also lost their loved ones – Live through your loss, cry, be gentle with yourself and listen only to your own heart. Our society is not yet quite ready for the topic of grief, so it often labels. Focus only on your inner state and your pain. Every Ukrainian family lost its most precious thing in this war..

These families should not be forgotten, and the children of our defenders should feel real support from the state.

So just live, because that’s what your loved ones would want. No matter how hard it is to wake up every morning, find the strength to move forward. And one more thing - surround yourself with real people and cut off those who are not able to walk this difficult path with you. I would like to bow down to the sky for everyone who has experienced loss. Be strong!