Architects Against War. Julia Bartle: believe and work

Julia Bartle started a connection with the world of design when she opened the DesignTime furniture gallery in Kyiv. Currently, Yulia has stopped her own business, but she does not despair. On the contrary, her day does not begin with coffee, but with the words "Good morning, invincibles!", with a radiant smile and, of course, tireless daily work.

It directs all its forces to help the Ukrainian military, who are currently on the front lines, in the crucible of war, fighting fiercely against the Russian occupiers. Yulia Bartle has been a front-line volunteer since 2014 and remains so today. Only the roads have become even more dangerous, and the rhythm of life has become more intense.

 

Prehistory

The war for Yulia Bartle did not start on February 24, she came to it 8 years ago - in 2014. Despite her own successful business, she started going to the front on her own, because it was then that volunteers fell on the shoulders of providing the military with everything they needed. However, having a creative nature and an easy disposition, Yuliya understood: it is important to start a cultural struggle, especially where everything Ukrainian has been deliberately destroyed for decades.

Art festivals in the East of Ukraine, creative meetings with actors, musicians, writers, film screenings, the opening of patriotic murals on the walls of small, war-torn towns of Donetsk and Luhansk regions — all this became an integral part of the life of Yulia and her friends, as well as a sip of real life only for military personnel, but also for the civilian population. Culture has become another front line.

Since 2017, Yuliya Bartle is a member of the initiative group that takes care of the Wall of Memory of the Fallen Defenders of Ukraine near the Mykhailivskyi Zolotoverkhi Monastery in Kyiv. In addition to working with the families of fallen Ukrainian Heroes, a powerful achievement was the recognition at the national level of August 29 as the Day of Remembrance of defenders of Ukraine who died defending the independence of Ukraine. Nowadays, near the portraits on Mykhailivska Square, candles are constantly burning and fresh flowers are standing, and Ukrainian soldiers are honored by the highest world leaders.

"The full-scale war of 2022 is not like the war of 2014"

Yulia understood that the war that Russia started against Ukraine in 2014 would be long and difficult, because it is not a war for territory, it is a struggle of civilizations, between a democratic and a totalitarian world. She understood: new challenges lie ahead.

"We were sure that there would be a big war, and we had to prepare," says Yulia. — Many people from my environment bought the necessary ammunition, attended training, and mastered tactical medicine. 4 days before the full-scale invasion, my friend, a hospitalist, and I were carrying essential items and equipment for the military to the front." But despite trying to predict how things would play out, reality outstripped imagination, and the full-scale war of 2022 turned out to be nothing like the war of 2014.

"I've always said that Ukrainians are not ready and we need to be more collected," reflects Yulia, "how, for example, we should act if in 6-8 hours enemy tanks end up near Kyiv, and we create traffic jams and cannot leave; how will we know where our children or meeting points are if mobile communication goes down; where will it be easier and safer - in the village or in the city? And there were many such questions."

With the beginning of the active phase of the war in 2022, a new round of volunteer work began in Yulia's life, however, in addition to the military, ordinary people who suffered from the enemy also became the focus of attention. Immediately after the liberation of Kyiv region, she and her friends repeatedly went with humanitarian aid to mutilated towns and villages, and saw with her own eyes the crimes of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Now Bartle is heading East and South, often in Donetsk region, Kharkiv region, Mykolaiv region.

 

Road to the East. Where they are waiting

As a rule, the journey lasts at least eight to eleven hours. Yulia is behind the wheel, smiling and self-confident. Friends and volunteers are nearby. Together, they pack heavy boxes with ammunition or medicines, are ready to lend a shoulder and provide insurance on the way, some even shoot a documentary film. Yulina's unchanging smile is in the frame, and incredible Ukrainian landscapes are outside the window.

"There is such beauty all around that it makes your head spin," says Yulia about her trips. — Wide meadows, sky, fields. One day the black arable land is replaced by yellow-burnt fields with rapeseed, the next — poppies and white acacia blossom around, and here in the window is a sea of ​​sunflowers. You open the window, and the air is so fragrant that you want to close your eyes and dive into it.

Ukraine is the most beautiful country. But the war brings me back to the terrible reality, I see these burning fields with bread, I see the land wounded by rockets. The invaders seek to destroy us and our world. But that only makes our anger and our desire to fight stronger. Never! We will never give up our land! I will fight as long as I have enough strength, because I want my children and grandchildren to have this beauty."

Then there are roadblocks and the front, where our defenders are waiting for Yulia. The road is long and difficult. "I noticed that it is easier for me personally to work in Donetsk, because the soldiers at the checkpoints are friendlier and more experienced than in other regions," says Bartle.

"And this is not surprising, because the war there has been going on for more than 8 years. They have a better understanding of the situation, always keep the volunteers informed of the events, warn of obstacles ahead and protect against dangers in those places where there are fierce battles. The boys are worried about me," shares Yulia. The military welcomes volunteers with respect and gratitude.

"We are always greeted with smiles, warm hugs, coffee, and delicious field buckwheat porridge or pilaf in every department. Soldiers need moral support, simple human communication, especially when there are heavy losses. You see their eyes and understand everything. But, despite such moments, trips to the East inspire and give confidence. Sometimes the military tells me, "You'll get tired and burn out," but I don't feel that way. I'm just afraid that I won't be able to do something, I won't help someone. It is very motivating not to give up."

"I will fight as long as I have enough strength, because I want my children and grandchildren to have this beauty"

In 2014, the volunteer Taras Shevchenko Kyiv Cossack Regiment BUK, together with the border guards, restrained the onslaught of Russian troops near Novoazovsk, Yulia Bartle recalls one of the stories. Later, when the military received state awards for that battle, Yulia, who considers herself one of the "wild" volunteers, modestly refused to join the solemn ceremony on a level with large volunteer foundations.

He said that she was not the only one who helped the military. The words of the commander's wife made him change his mind: "Come, the guys remember your bulletproof vests, they saved their lives." "It's important to know that people need your help, and they remember it," says Yulia.

 

When boys become warriors

Julia has two sons: Oleksandr and Yevhen. The younger, Evgeny, is currently a student, studying and making efforts for victory in the rear. The eldest, Oleksandr, turned 31 years old. He voluntarily joined the ranks of the Armed Forces and is currently one of the commanders of the unit. Oleksandr came to the Military Committee for the first time in 2014 and was supposed to appear there again in case of mobilization, but then he was never summoned. It was at that time that Julia started volunteering and as a mother, of course, she wanted to "do everything so that the children did not have time for this war."

Today, Julia's relationship with Alexander has changed, they communicate even more often than in peaceful life. She is often in the East, has a good understanding of what is happening, and says that she and her son are now "on the same page." "I want us to come out of this war with as few losses as possible, so I don't stop, no matter how difficult it is," shares Yulia, "of course, we still lack the heavy weapons promised by the West, and I never tire of calling on the world to provide them, but the guys heroically stand as a human shield for each of us. These are the backs I hide behind, but they are also the backs I cover.”

"These are the backs I hide behind, but they are also the backs I cover"

According to Yulia Bartle, she is annoyed by the statements of young and inexperienced Ukrainian soldiers: "For those who go to fight, there are different motivations, however, the first one is love for Ukraine." If a man went to the front himself as a volunteer, Yulia believes, this is his mission. "Boys become warriors in this war, they find their purpose."

 

Roman Town Hall and his life's work

This war took Yulia's close friend, Roman Ratushny. He was a Kyiv activist, the founder of the public organization "Protect Protasiv Yar". The boy was constantly persecuted for his active position and activities, and in 2019 they even tried to kill him. But Russian occupiers killed Roma. He died in June 2022, a month short of his 25th birthday, on the land he had defended not only at the onset of full-scale war, but for years before that.

The death of the young man became a huge personal tragedy for Julia. He was not only her colleague and like-minded person, but also a friend and just a good neighbor. Yulia treated the boy almost like her own son. Now, after the death of Roman, Yuliya, as one of the coordinators of the public association "Protect Protasiv Yar", continues the work and dream of his life.

"Roma was a deep person... This is a great loss"

In one of the interviews, French journalists asked Bartle about Town Hall, saying, could a person be such a hero: "I have never seen him in despair. He was an engine, an incredible communicator, connected everyone and everything. He was a deep person," replies Yulia.

"His death is a great loss not only for the Kyiv community, but also for all of Ukraine. Roman thought big, even in his will he asked to give part of the money to support the National Honored Bandurist Chapel named after H. Maiboroda, part to the Taras Shevchenko Literary and Memorial House-Museum in Kyiv, and also to help the volunteer medical battalion "Hospitaliers". Now is the time when the phenomenon of patronage in support of national values ​​should return to us, and Roman was a person who was aware of the importance of such processes."

During its existence, the community "Protect Protasiv Yar" has come a long way - both through physical struggle, rallies and festivals in support of the "green lungs of the city", and legal struggle in numerous court hearings. And it was on the eve of our conversation with Yulia that a long-awaited and important decision was made at the KMDA session: 21 hectares of Protasovoy Yar land were finally declared a reserve. Despite the battle and long conversations, the majority of deputies of the Kyiv City Council voted for this decision. So the struggle of Roman and the community was not in vain.

"However, it is still too early to celebrate the victory," Yulia explains. — The owner of one of the plots, who had never been contacted, appeared before the community for the first time with the conviction to still build on this territory. Instead, it would be wonderful if he was able to love Kyiv as well and realize those simple and important truths with which Roman lived; so that this person will go down in the history of the city not because of the new buildings and courts, about which he has already announced, but will remain in the memory of Kyivans as the one who gave Kyiv a green zone." That is, the struggle continues, but Bartle and her like-minded people are determined to win.

Military diary

On February 24, Yulia Bartle's everyday life, like that of all Ukrainians, of course, changed: an alarming suitcase, sirens, lack of a good night's sleep. "There is neither time nor motivation to wash windows or venture into culinary feats. As one of the prominent people said, I belong to the category of women who can last a day on a cup of coffee with a cigarette," Yuliya smiles, but adds that the first opportunity to get a manicure from a master was a real happiness. "I had to "change my style" a bit and wear a hat because of my undyed hair. And in the wardrobe, along with perfume and heels, tactical pants with pockets and comfortable raglans appeared."

One evening, Yulia recalls, returning home after a pleasant date, she looked at her civilian clothes with a dream of the next meeting: "But planning the future when the country is under fire is absolutely pointless. We live in the moment and simply appreciate life, - shares Yulia's thoughts, - I opened the closet, ran my hand over my favorite dresses, and then took my bulletproof vest and went to the East." True, the person Yulia met then also went to the front.

"I opened the closet, ran my hand over my favorite dresses, took a bulletproof vest and went to the East..."

Yulia lives at a fast pace, and the dawn of a new day begins with her already "branded" greetings on Facebook with wishes for our joint victory. Social networks became a tool for Yulia to cheer up her friends.

"Sometimes it seems very naive, but I know that I am read by very different people: military personnel themselves; wives waiting for soldiers from the front; relatives of fallen soldiers and members of the families of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred; read by those who went abroad, my customers, designers and architects - that is, completely different people. And I would like them all to understand each other. I try to support their morale, because I need it myself."

Bartle's Facebook has turned into a diary that she didn't have as a child. Photos and posts help to remember important events, bright moments, so that this or that day is remembered with its special atmosphere, thoughts and mood. Her digital world also features a lot of art, particularly poetry, which she is very fond of. The page contains poems by beloved contemporaries: Serhiy Zhadan, Yuriy Izdryk, Dmytro Lazutkin, Kateryna Babkina, Tetyana Vlasova, Yuriy Strokan, Kolya Kulinich and others. Each of them feels the present acutely, Yulia says, and their works, written during the war, impress with their poignancy and at the same time unshakable faith in the victory of Ukraine.

 

About Ukrainian culture

Is culture needed at the front? At the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014, Yulia Bartle decided: without culture, you cannot win, so together with Serhiy Zhadan, she visited military units in Donetsk region and Luhansk region, together with Anzhelika Rudnitskaya, she visited all the hottest points of the front and supported wounded soldiers in hospitals.

Side by side with many Ukrainian artist friends, Yulia participated in numerous artistic initiatives, which are so important for raising the fighting spirit. Bartle also supports the connection with those artists who are currently fighting for Ukraine: "Many Ukrainian actors are currently at war: some help the front, for example, driving cars to the front line, others defend our land with weapons in their hands."

Yulia Bartle also calls the continuation of artistic landings in this phase of the war extremely important: "Our military in this difficult time really lacks some kind of reboot, new emotions, humor. This great work is now being continued by my artist friends. For example, since 2014, People's Artist of Ukraine Ada Rogovtseva has been with the military. Despite her venerable age, Ada Mykolayivna still tirelessly travels with her team to military units and hospitals, shows her plays, reads poems, communicates with military personnel. These meetings are incredibly thrilling and warm. Today, the Ivan Franko National Theater is doing a lot in this direction, and in the near future I myself plan to join my friends and bring Ukrainian cinema to the East and South."

"In the Russian language, with real weapons in his hands, the "Russian measure" is coming to our house"

Julia Bartle is not indifferent to cinematography and art, so she is friends with many writers, musicians and actors. Among them are rock bands Kozak System, "Without Limits", singers Galya and Lesya Telniuk, Carpathian ethnic group "KoraLLi", including its piper Myshko Adamchak, head of the cultural platform "Crimean House" Akhtem Seitablaev, actress Rimma Zyubina, actress and director Kateryna Stepankova. Each of them, says Bartle, is at the cutting edge of events, and just like her, without giving up, helps the Ukrainian army.

Julia is sure: it is necessary to develop and maintain one's own culture. "In no case should libraries and cultural centers be closed, instead, everything should be done to turn them into art hubs, it is worth carrying the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian culture to the East. This is extremely important, because the "Russian mir" comes to our house with a real weapon in his hands according to the Russian language. We need literary readings, boarders, poetry evenings, artistic performances.

Certain entertainment events are inappropriate: what can discos or humorous stand-ups be when enemy missiles are flying into Ukrainian cities and our heroes are dying at the front?" Yulia is indignant. Instead, he says that some fighters do not perceive it so negatively, because "they see the situation in a different way and fight so that their loved ones and friends have the opportunity to live a full life."

 

About people and victory

During 8 years of public and charity work, Yulia says, she repeatedly encountered the attitude of volunteers as services that are obliged to do something: "It is very upsetting that people do not understand that each of us must act, and not expect help from outside. We ourselves are a state. We ourselves are the community that drives society." But the period of personal disappointment for Bartle has long passed.

According to her, "not all heroes in war are good people in life, and vice versa: not all people who are good in life are effective in war. In the full-scale war of 2022, some of my acquaintances were pleasantly surprised, and somewhere "small human betrayals" surfaced. But this is life."

"We ourselves are a state. We ourselves are the community that drives society"

Bartle believes that in this war, everyone has their own personal mission: someone went to the front, and someone began to help the front; someone works, earns money and supports our economy and the army financially, because the economic sector is very important, and someone saves children - our gene pool; someone is just now organizing charity film screenings and concerts in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and someone is developing social programs for the future post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.

"Fight where you stand! - prompts Yulia. — That's what my friend Marusya Zvirobiy always says, and it's a very important motto for me. Everyone should be in their place. The only ones I despise are people who close their eyes and pretend there is no war, and make no effort whatsoever to bring our common victory closer.”

What exactly do we need to win? Julia Bartle has her own answer to this question: believe and work! "In one of Serhiy Zhadan's poems, there are the following words: "My mother taught me that despair is evil," so you can never fold your hands. There are still many difficulties ahead, it will be difficult, there will be losses, pain and tears, but that is why we need faith. Faith in ourselves, our army, our country and our future. You have to work for victory and know that victory will definitely come, and every day it becomes one day closer."

 

 

Read also

Serhii Tselovalnyk. Architect against war

Architects Against War. Olga Kleitman and her native Kharkiv

Standards of dignity. Social housing for post-war Ukraine

Organize the chaos. Difficult questions for architects