The Story About a Kitchen Cabinet With a Rooster Figurine Shared by a Heroine of the Museum of Civilian Voices of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation Was Included in a Children’s Book

“We hold on like a kitchen cabinet from Borodianka”: the story of Nadiya Svatko, the owner of a super-strong kitchen cabinet with a ceramic figurine of a rooster on it, which survived on the wall of a bombed-out building, inspired Ukraine and went viral around the world. Nadiya shared it with the Museum of Civilian Voices of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. And from there, her story made it to the pages of an illustrated children’s book “The city has Me!” by Iryna Ozymok. 

The book offers a lot of interesting information about how life in cities is arranged. There you can find out who actually makes the city cosy, why you need to use heating sparingly, and why you need a city mayor. In addition, you can learn about how children can influence the quality of their own lives and which organizations or initiatives to join. This is the second, extended edition of the book. 

In total, the book has 13 chapters. One of them talks about Ukrainian realities: the peculiarities of living in the city during the war. In this particular chapter, the author tells her readers Nadiya’s story.

“An aerial bomb hit a residential building. Miraculously, a kitchen cabinet with a ceramic figurine of a rooster on it was found almost intact on the surviving wall. This ceramic figurine became a symbol of invincibility and perseverance, as it remained intact despite anything. Its owner, Ms. Nadiya Svatko, gave the cabinet and the rooster to the Museum, and now Ukrainians give the same figurines of roosters to foreigners as a sign of gratitude for their help,” the book says. 

You can find Nadiya’s story told first-hand in the Museum of Civilian Voices of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation at the link The Museum of Civilian Voices – A rooster from Borodianka is a sign that victory will be ours!

Every war story matters. To keep the memory for a better future, share your story on the Museum’s portal Home page – The Museum of Civilian Voices of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

or via the toll-free hotline 0 (800) 509 001.