Psychologist Lana Prystupliuk talks about psychological help. The resident of Rivne calls herself a Ukrainian first and foremost. ‘Identity is the most important thing for me,’ she says, ’I don’t speak or read Russian as a matter of principle. I didn’t do this even before the enemy’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Mrs. Lana speaks Ukrainian and English well. This woman has put a lot of work on her frail shoulders. She is a psychologist, psychotherapist, volunteer, motanka-doll (rag-doll, traditional Ukrainian amulet and toy) artist, donor, and a wonderful mother to her 6-year-old daughter Yaryna and four-year-old Demian, who was adopted this year.
She learned English on her own
Lana Prystupliuk graduated from school No. 2, and then Rivne Humanitarian University became her Alma-mater, where she received two degrees – in cultural studies and psychology. Later, she also became an English teacher.
‘I never thought I would teach English,’ says Lana. – ‘I told myself: no, this is definitely not for me! At school, my friends gave me a book by my favorite writer Stephen King. I read the book in Ukrainian, then in English. And I realized that my knowledge of English is lacking. I started learning English on my own and took courses. When I reached a good level of proficiency, people started to approach with requests to teach them English too. I realized that I could make money from this and started working for myself as an English tutor. I love this language. I don’t speak Russian on principle.’
How did Lana Prystupliuk became such staunch Ukrainian? If we study her family tree, we come across interesting facts. It turns out that her maternal great-grandfather Stasiuk served in the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army), as did her grandmother’s brother.
She rejected the offer to take her daughter abroad
After the full-scale invasion, the situation was chaotic. Some people tried to go abroad, others waited to see what would happen next, not knowing what to do. On February 25, 2022, Lana Prystupliuk was already standing in line to the Rivne Regional Blood Service Center.
‘I understood that everyone needed my blood type – O minus -’ says Lana, – ’It was a stressful period. It was unclear: what, where, how? I was advised: ‘Think about it, maybe you should take your daughter abroad?’. I immediately rejected this offer; My parents are here, and I have to live here. Many of my friends and acquaintances from Rivne went to war.
At first, I started weaving camouflage nets for the military with my friends, and together we looked for other ways to help them. In March, I joined the “Spivdija Dity” (Cooperation for Kids) project. I started working with children of IDPs (internally displaced persons) who came here from the areas where active hostilities were taking place. It was very difficult to communicate with them because children of war have experienced incredible stress. It’s hard to believe, but the facts are there: 14-year-old girls were raped by the occupiers. I was counseling children and adults at different locations in our city – wherever they lived. Listening to terrible stories, after which I could not come to my senses.
When I came home and had to do my housework, I couldn’t concentrate, I couldn’t put all the pieces together.
The team of volunteers included women who had something to offer. These are Tetiana Kravchuk, Olha Ihnatieva, Victoria Herasymyak, Tetiana Oleynykova (twice an IDP), Alexandra Pocipukh and others. We created our own group. We helped others and supported ourselves.
Although I’ll be honest: volunteers get ‘burned out’ during the long period of war, and they need support too.
Later, we began to actively cooperate with the Ruyevyt-Ukraine Charitable Foundation, headed by Iryna Shaulska.
I opened a bank account for donations and share requests for donations with my friends and acquaintances. My friends, in turn, share the requests for donations among their friends, expanding the circle. The soldiers, who receive ‘combat’ money, also contribute funds to the account.
On October 30th this year, we delivered another car from Finland for my friends who are fighting in the Pokrovsk sector. We were raising funds for it for three months. We raised 150 thousand hryvnias. But it was not enough. The majority of the cost was covered by the Ruyevyt-Ukraine charity.
We close one request and another one appears. Now, for example, we have started raising funds for a radio-electronic warfare/jamming device, which is very much needed at the front.’
Bright people are clearly visible in dark times
‘There is a saying: ‘In dark times, you can clearly see bright people,’ – Lana continues. – ‘In this difficult time, we see who is who.
It so happened that many people with whom I communicated before the full-scale war, stopped communicating with me after the war began. I am a staunch Ukrainian. My convictions did not coincide with their views on life.
Instead, I met people who were close to me in spirit and patriotism, with whom I had never met before. One of them is Victoria Herasymiak, who is my godmother now. I was lucky to have met Maxym Sukhan. He is a man with a capital M. Every day he does his best for our victory: he drives cars from abroad, repairs them, cuts nets, etc.
Unfortunately, the war continues. So we have to act. And if I were told: ‘Get me a planet!’, I would do it! I have a friend who is in military. Through him, many defenders get in touch with me. He says: ‘If anyone needs something, contact Lana.’ But I should note that volunteering is not the work of one person. It is always a co-operation. There are many people behind a volunteer. I am the person who organizes it all.
The cars that are brought from abroad are being repaired and painted. The guys bring the vehicle to a state of good repair at reasonable prices. My task is to raise the money and pay for it.
We send military equipment and vehicles to a specific soldier. Because, frankly, if you send an order to a military unit, it will not always reach the addressee.
‘We all need psychological help’
‘I’m currently giving private lessons and consultations as a psychologist,’ says Lana. ’My clients include soldiers. But for now, I will speak for all people who are at war. We all need psychological help. Because now we live in constant stress, on hormones, adrenaline. After the war, it will be even worse…
I live the war very much. I have the impression that I have rolled over to this side. It is not easy to communicate with the military people. I have not been to the front-line. So there are many questions like: ‘How can you help me when you have not been to the front?’. I say this: if I had been there, at the war, I could not have helped you. Because I would have had a similar traumatic experience and would not have been able to provide the kind of support I can offer here. My task is to quickly return soldiers to a civilian life. At the front-line, psychologists have a different purpose – to make sure that soldiers perform their tasks.’
She became a master motanka-doll maker thanks to her grandmother
How did passion for motanka-doll making begin? Lana Prystupliuk says that her grandmother instilled in her an interest in making this traditional Ukrainian amulet. It was she who taught her how to weave a doll. ‘I was 26 years old and pregnant at the time,’ she recalls. ’I sat down at the table and my hands made a doll. After that, I started making dolls.
Before the full-scale invasion, I held masterclasses for everyone at the Honcharenko Center and sold rag dolls.
In May 2022, we organized a powerful event in Lebedynka Park to make angel amulets for our soldiers. Many people joined this event. We made over 500 pocket-sized motanka-dolls for our defenders.
During the war, I collaborated with Serhiy Vytkanov, a lecturer at Rivne Humanitarian University. At this institution, we held masterclasses in motanka-doll making, and sent them to charity fairs in Canada, Poland, Portugal, Finland, and England. In addition to dolls, I also made toys and candles.
Not only Ukrainians living in these countries, but also Canadians, Finns and others paid 10, 20, 50 dollars or euros for our products. Although they are foreigners, they are Ukrainians at heart. Because they are very passionate about our country. We used the proceeds to buy medicine, filters and many other things.
We also sold motanka-dolls in Ukraine. But at a lower price, because Ukrainians are financially exhausted by the war.
By my count, I have already organized more than 100 charity workshops. I buy materials and fabric for the dolls with my own money. Later, people from Rivne started bringing me whole packages of fabrics. We started a mutual exchange.’
She saved many lives by donating blood
Psychologist Lana Prystupliuk donates blood regularly and she is proud of it.
‘It encourages me to lead a healthy lifestyle,’ she continues, ’It is recommended that women donate blood no more than 4 times a year. Between February 25. 2022 and September 2024, I donated blood 12 times. One dose can save three lives!
The need for blood is very high. The Rivne Regional Blood Service Center constantly receives orders to deliver blood to the front, for cancer patients, etc.
It so happened that this year my grandfather was hospitalized and needed blood. I became even more concerned about this problem. So, I urge those who weigh more than 50 kg to become donors! You will save the lives of many people.’
‘Demianchyk became our son’
‘When we got married, we planned to have two children of our own and adopt a third,’ says Lana. – ‘But life turned out differently. We have a 6-year-old daughter, Yaryna.
In November 2021, we started collecting documents for adoption. The full-scale invasion stopped this process for a while.
When my husband and I came to meet the boy Demian, he took my hand and said: ‘Mum!’. I could not hold back my tears. In July this year, Demian, who will soon be 4 years old, became our son.’
The couple complement each other
Serhiy Prystupliuk is a businessman. He is also a loving husband and a wonderful father to his children. According to his wife, Serhiy not only takes care of the children, he gives them confidence that everything is fine at the home front; ‘his tremendous support, his belief in me and what I do inspires and gives me strength. Without his care, concern, and love, I could not have done so many useful things’.
‘When I see that my help brings joy to people, that they are happy, I blossom,’ psychologist Lana Prystupliuk concludes, ’It’s cool!
Vasyl Zakrevskyi
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