The Iryna Archive
This sub-project and initiative of The Sága Project is named in honour of Hospitallers combat medic and journalist Iryna “Cheka” Tsybukh (June 1, 1998- May 29, 2024).
Read Iryna's LetterStories of Women & Girls from Ukraine
Share Your StoryAt The Sága Project, we believe that the best way to make sure history is recorded accurately - and that the perpetrators don't get to rewrite it for themselves - is that women tell the truth about what is happening. Live. As it happens.
The Iryna Archive is an ongoing initiative collecting stories on video and in print from women and girls living through Russian invasion, occupation, and war in Ukraine.
We partner with Ukrainian NGOs for storytelling, justice, and those working with women and girls and victims of war crimes (Svidok, Zemliachky, Ukrainian Women Battalion, Sylni, NGO Girls, the Masha Fund, Women’s March).
The testimonies collected now will inform future generations as to what really took place, forming the most powerful oral history archive. They may also prove instrumental in bringing the war criminals to justice.
Iryna gained fame not only for her bravery and courage in life, or her tragic death in combat, but for the letter she wrote to her brother in the event of her death.
• Published posthumously in spring 2024.
“In order to be free, you have to attain new kinds of values. You have to understand yourself well, and know who you are, know what happiness means to you and how to achieve it. Once you have these answers, the most important thing is to keep moving forward. Here… I’m on my path, being myself and doing what I want… To have the strength to be a free person, you must be brave.”
With immense courage, deep observation, wit, and even some humour, Iryna discussed what she had learned about herself in war, and how we find our purpose in life by doing what we must. As a text of a woman journalist in war, it’s a moving and existentially minded philosophical masterpiece of a first-person account of life in war:
“Hi, accept my condolences. I don’t like seeing you sad, but over time, this despair will fade, and life will go on. So don’t waste time on suffering, move forward.
It’s now 7:19 PM, Saturday, April 8, 2023. My team and I are working on reconnaissance for the 80th brigade. ‘Dream On’ by Aerosmith is playing in the background. There have been so many close calls this past year, I figured I should write a posthumous letter just in case.
It’s sad to me how we lead our frail lives, relying on societal approval so much, that we only find true freedom in death alone. The only problem is life ends, and that freedom bears no meaning. From today on, I don’t care what people will say about me, about you, about this text, about anything. Whether these words get likes or not, finally no one’s opinion matters to me anymore because l’m dead.
Freedom is the highest value. Almost 25 years passed by, often bogged down by fears and insecurities. But these distractions had no place in my pursuit of freedom. I’m grateful to myself, my parents, my brother, my family, and my friends for allowing me to be free and live the life I wanted.
In order to be free, you have to attain new kinds of values. You have to understand yourself well, and know who you are, know what happiness means to you and how to achieve it. Once you have these answers, the most important thing is to keep moving forward. Here in Donetsk, I’m on my path, being myself and doing what I want.
Nothing else matters really, which is why writing this letter comes so easily. Right this moment, same as the moment when my time comes, I have no regrets in the face of death because I’m finally living the life that I wanted. I won’t lie, to feel this true freedom, I’ll need more rounds of therapy, face more fears, and shed more tears.
Today, everything is behind me. My life is over, and it was important for me to live with dignity: to be honest, kind, and loving. Today, we are working for the heroes, and it’s a great way to reaffirm my values – to be that person truly.
Thank you to everyone who loved and supported me. Don’t mourn me, life is so short. If it continues after death, we’ll meet again.
My brother, don’t worry about me. I stopped worrying about you when you turned 17. Today, you had your first tour of princely Lviv, and I’m so proud of you. Whoever you choose to be, trust yourself, listen to yourself, love yourself, and live a happy life. If I can, I’ll support you from heaven. But what really matters is that while I was alive, we loved each other and were wonderful siblings. Those were good times. Let these memories warm you and motivate you, but don’t let them upset you.
To have the strength to be a free person, you must be brave. Only the brave find happiness, and it is better to die running than to live rotting. Be worthy of the feats of our heroes, don’t despair, and be brave!
Kisses, yours Cheka”
• 04.08.23 Donetsk region
Share Your Story
We invite Ukrainian women and girls—living in Ukraine, the occupied territories, or around the world in diaspora or refugee states—to share their stories of invasion, survival, and resilience from 2014 to the present day.
So share your story in any format in which you feel comfortable: written, audio, visual. In English, Ukrainian, or any other language.