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Girl in Ukraine details 'bomb shelter life' on TikTok: 'It's getting worse'

A young Ukrainian girl has offered a glimpse inside her family's bomb shelter where they're hiding out and seeking safety amid the country's ongoing war with Russia.

In the two weeks since President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine causing innocent people to flee their homes, others like Valeria Shashenok and her family, who live in Chernihiv, have been hiding out in a below-ground bunker.

While the idea is hard for many to fathom, Ms Shashenok, a photographer, has shared a series of clips showing her family doing ordinary, everyday things, like blow drying her hair and cooking a meal.

Valeria Shashenok is living in a bomb shelter with her family in the city of Chernihiv, which has been destroyed by Russia. Source: TikTok
Valeria Shashenok is living in a bomb shelter with her family in the city of Chernihiv, which has been destroyed by Russia. Source: TikTok

The young woman, who posts under the handle @Valerisssh, has garnered 300,000 followers in the past two weeks by detailing the reality many Ukrainians are currently faced with amid the ongoing fighting across the country.

In a series of clips titled "a typical day in a bomb shelter", the young woman appears cheerful as she demonstrates what mealtimes look like in a basement with her mum whipping up pasta, blinchiki – a traditional crepe-like pancake – and other native dishes.

Throughout the day when it's safe to do so, Ms Shashenok leaves the bunker for supplies but the grocery store appears devastatingly low in stock with empty shelves throughout.

Multiple videos show "what Putin has done to the city" with buildings reduced to rubble and debris covering the streets where locals once lived.

In one clip, Ms Shashenok stands in front of a mountain of debris, which was once a cinema before being destroyed by a Russian missile, she says.

As she zooms around the war-torn city, which has been left in ruins, she shows apartment blocks where people once lived destroyed as sirens alarm in the background.

Her intention for sharing such videos, it seems, is to add some levity to an otherwise dire situation

When it is safe to do so, the young TikTok star shares footage of the destruction caused during the Russian invasion. Source: TikTok
When it is safe to do so, the young TikTok star shares footage of the destruction caused during the Russian invasion. Source: TikTok

Speaking on CNN, Ms Shashenok said it's her "mission" for people around the world to "see how it looks in real life".

"The situation in my country every day is getting worse," she said during an interview from her bunker.

"I'm blessed I'm with my family in the most safe place."

Ms Shashenok has received a bout of praise on social media for using humour to document the crippling events around her.

"Gen Z is built different! You made me smile. Stay safe!" one person wrote on a video she shared.

"Thank you for sharing. Please stay safe," wrote another.

Valeria shares the everyday things she does with her family while hiding underground in the bomb shelter. Source: TikTok
Valeria shares the everyday things she does with her family while hiding underground in the bomb shelter. Source: TikTok

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