On the day it was reported that Kherson was the first major city to be taken by the Russians in their attack on the nation of Ukraine, I spoke with Tatiana* who lives in Kyiv.

She was introduced to me by Councillor Paul Hanson Graham from Ferndown Town Council who put a motion forward at the last full council meeting to help with the aid effort for Ukraine. It was passed unanimously.

Tatiana only had a brief few minutes to talk, as there was the threat of bombing and loss of communication.

Even so, she spoke with insuppressible optimism despite the situation in Kherson. “It’s only temporary. We have the advantage. We defend our cities and our spirits are high,” she said.

She lives on the first floor in a block of flats in Kyiv with her two grown up children and her son’s partner. “My son has a flat, but it’s on the sixteenth floor and it’s too dangerous for him and his girlfriend to stay there.”

I wanted to know if it was likely that she would have to evacuate the flat and go to a bomb shelter during our conversation.

“We don’t go to a shelter. We stay in the bathroom of the flat, all together.”

It has become a way of life for the family.

I ask if she is thinking of fleeing Kyiv, like many other women and children have done, bearing in mind that a Russian convoy stretching 64km in length is just 25km north of the city.

“I prefer to stay here. It is my country and if you flee, you don’t know where you’re going.”

Tatiana lives in a residential area. This should, in theory, keep her safe although she and her family can hear the worrying sound of bombs and explosions from their block of flats. They can only envisage the damage that is being done elsewhere in the city.

Her feelings are mixed, “It’s scary to realize what’s going on for both Russians and Ukranians. We don’t know when it is going to be over and the uncertainty is killing me.

“It’s difficult to stay calm and cheerful, but it helps to be cheerful.”

She talked about her pets – her cat Loshi; a rat called Chicka, and an ant farm. It’s a curious combination that brought a smile to my face and helps keep her smiling too.

‘We have enough food for them, but there are rations in the supermarkets,” she explained.

“There are queues for buying bread and we are only allowed two loaves per person. People wait for the bread to be cooked.”

Her optimism shone as she added, “We have just had a new supply of dairy, veg and flour, so we are okay.”

I miss-heard and thought she said flowers. We laughed about this because she confirmed that the flower shops are indeed open and so are the gardening shops – perhaps a way of keeping a buoyant mood and a degree of cheerfulness in the grey of war.

I asked if there is anything they need and she said, “Medical supplies. Not all the chemists are open and there is a limited supply of medications. I need medication and am hopeful of it coming in soon.”

Tatiana is certain that in Kyiv, the heart of Ukraine, there are enough troops to defend it.

“We will not let the Russians take our city. All our people are united to protect Ukraine. We have managed to hold them off and Russian soldiers are getting weaker and don’t have fuel supplies.”

Then she said the words we all recognise in this tragic war, “We are a peaceful nation and we want peace all over the world.”

Yet in the same breath, she is compelled to add, “We have the advantage, we are defending our country. Our spirit is very high. If anyone wants to fight with us, we will protect them.”

And Tatiana confirmed that the stories we are hearing about Russian soldiers not knowing why they are invading Ukraine are correct.

She thinks it will only be a matter of time before Russia retreats, “The invasion of Ukraine has united the whole world. Nobody wants war.

“In Ukraine, we have the power to joke, our spirit is still high.”

It was an emotional interview talking to someone whose life, and the life of her family, is at risk through no fault of their own. It left me with an empty, powerless feeling yet, despite her being far away and taking refuge in her bathroom, Tatiana’s voice can now be heard.

And what I took from Tatiana’s brief conversation was, that if optimism can win a war, it will be the Ukrainians who show the world how it is done.

* Name changed to preserve anonymity