Berdiansk activist Tetiana Tipakova tells journalists about rescue from Russian torture camps and helping her compatriots in free territory

The story of Tetiana Tipakova, a resident of Berdiansk, is an example of how to love our city, our country, and our fellow countrymen. Communicating with such people motivates concrete actions to bring Victory closer. For residents of Berdiansk, 70% of whom left the occupied city and received shelter throughout Ukraine, Tetiana became a helper and a person who cares. After all, the Ridna Stezhka non-governmental organization, founded by her, helps not only with food kits but also with medicines, medical supplies for the sick, and baby food. Particular attention is paid to the boys at the front and their families. I’m sure that Tetiana Tipakova is creating the newest chronicles of Berdiansk,” says media personality from Berdiansk Viktoriya Horbatko.

The meeting with the Ridna Stezhka head Tetiana Tipakova took place at the Zaporizhzhia Journalists’ Solidarity Center (JSC) of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) on the initiative of a journalist from Berdiansk, Viktoriya Horbatko, who was so impressed by the fate of her compatriot during the war that she invited her to the JSC so that her colleagues could get to know this unique woman.

Before the war, Tetiana Tipakova successfully ran her business – she had a travel agency and a shop on the Berdianska Dalnia Spit and visited 64 countries. She was never involved in public or political activities. But her life changed dramatically after the occupation of Berdiansk.

When Russian troops captured the resort town, she called on her compatriots not to succumb to enemy propaganda, not to receive their humanitarian aid.

Via social networks, Tetiana urged people not to forget that they are Ukrainians and invited them to the rally. Three men supported her, offering their help. They made a Ukrainian flag, with which the participants of the rally walked along the central avenue. It was March 6 last year.

“For two hours, we felt like free people,” said Tetiana.

And on March 15, Vitalii Shevchenko, a resident of Berdiansk, was taken “to the basement” right from the rally. After he is released, he will get out of the city, go to the front, and die from an enemy mine while taking out wounded soldiers. Volodymyr Sushko was thrown behind bars after Vitalii. He was mercilessly tortured, and doctors are still treating him. Only Andrii Vlad managed to avoid arrest. Now he is in Kyiv.

Tetiana Tipakova was arrested on March 20. She was placed in a cold cell in the jail. The woman suffered severe physical and moral abuse.

“I didn’t know if I would get out of the cell. I thought only about how to survive. They set me a condition: we will let you go if you tell the TV camera that Russia is not evil. Since you were able to organize mass rallies, people will listen to you, and you will bring them to the square for the May holidays,” says Tetiana.

Tetiana had to agree to the video recording. This gave at least some hope of breaking free. She was released two days later with her hands tied and a bag over her head. Struggling to get rid of the shackles and the bag, Tetiana reached the house on Dalnia Spit on foot. Her daughter was waiting for her there. After learning about her mother’s arrest, she arrived in a day and a half from Poland, where she was getting a higher education. Tetiana began to prepare for departure: she took the documents from the travel agency to a safe place, gathered the most necessary things, distributed groceries from the store to people… And in the evening of the same day, the Russian military broke into her place again.

The second detention lasted four days. The torture took place every day. The occupiers were very angry, accusing her of breaking her promises. They forced them to repeat the words of the Russian national anthem to say that Ukraine abuses its citizens. The woman had to agree to a second video recording to dull the Russians’ vigilance. On the fourth day, Tetiana was taken home by car.

The invaders stole alcohol and sweets from the store, loaded them into a car, and drove away. Before that, Tetiana was ordered to appear at the city council premises the next day with documents. In the morning, Tetiana and her daughter drove up to the gathering place of Berdiansk citizens who were leaving the city in their own car, which they managed to hide from the invaders, and set off with them. They passed control at 23 enemy posts and reached Zaporizhzhia at 11 p.m.

Having recovered from what she experienced in her hometown, Tetiana Tipakova created the Ridna Stezhka NGO in Zaporizhzhia. Found and involved sponsors in the work. She organized several projects for resettled compatriots. In particular, consultations with psychologists and lawyers, English language classes, a health group, and cultural and artistic events. The non-governmental organization takes care of the families of military personnel and residents of Berdiansk who currently live in various regions of Ukraine. Parcels with household and medical goods are sent to them. Frontline assistance is also provided. Having gone through terrible trials, Tetiana Tipakova did not despair; she found herself in a business useful for people. And the Ridna Stezhka she created became a reliable support for her compatriots.

“It was challenging to listen to Tetiana‘s story. But it was even more difficult for Tetiana to survive all this and not lose faith in people. Now I hate the russian military even more. Thanks to the JSC for introducing us to courageous and interesting people who inspire,” says Alla Shamrai, a journalist from Enerhodar.

“And they sympathized and cried, and everyone plunged into their memories. Tetiana is a true patriot of Ukraine, a brave woman. Her stories about the occupation of Berdiansk by the Russian invaders, about the atrocities committed there by the ruscists, about being in prison torture chambers, and about torture struck those present to the core. With tears in our eyes, we listened to Tetiana‘s poignant words about the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people, about sacrifice and mutual aid that bring our Victory closer. Such events are extremely important because simple human communication saves us; we become kinder and more sincere,” said Tamara Bort from Huliaipole.

Call the Zaporizhzhia JSC by dialing 096 277 5352 (Nataliya Kuzmenko and Valentyna Manzhura, the coordinators of the Zaporizhzhia JSC). The Center’s address is 152 Sobornyi Avenue.

ABOUT JSC

The Journalists’ Solidarity Centers is an initiative of the NUJU implemented with the support of the International and European Federations of Journalists and UNESCO. The initiative is designated to help media representatives working in Ukraine during the war. The Centers operate in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipro and provide journalists with organizational, technical, legal, psychological, and other types of assistance.

ABOUT UNESCO

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding. It is the coordinator of the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, which aims to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers, thus strengthening peace, democracy, and sustainable development worldwide. UNESCO is working closely with its partner organizations in Ukraine to provide support to journalists on the ground.

The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this digest do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this digest and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit to the organization.

Nina Derkach

Photo by Dariya Zyrianova