Valeriia, aka Valerissh, is a Ukrainian photographer from Chernihiv, a city in the north of Ukraine known for its beautiful cathedrals and vibrant restaurant scene. When the invasion and the war broke out, Valeriia hid for some time with her parents in their bomb shelter before escaping, while her parents stayed behind.

These past few weeks she has become a viral sensation online after posting some TikToks titled “My Typical Day In A Bomb Shelter,” which garnered 22 million views. While her videos have ironic and witty captions, the harsh reality she allows us to witness is devastating. Valeriia is now in Italy — you might have caught one of her interviews on the local TV. In one of her videos, during her escape, we saw her being offered Ukrainian bread from volunteers in Poland.