There is rain in the air when 15 children from Ukraine arrive at Junibacken on Djurgården in Stockholm. One of them is 17-year-old Anastasija. She comes from the Cherson region, which is heavily affected by the war. Anastasija tells about the war sitting in a wheelchair and with one hand wrapped in a bandage.
I lost my leg in my hometown Tjornobajivka during a robot attack.
She shows a picture from the city on her mobile phone. It depicts a government building that was bombed to pieces on Thursday.
The city is under constant attack. Many houses and buildings are destroyed, she says.
Gave a portrait to the queen
Also present at Junibacken are mothers, doctors - and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) who has ridden the fairy tale train and socialized with the children.
A large part of their lives has been war. War is terrible in every way, it's extra touching when you meet children who are affected, he says.
The children are visiting Sweden for recreation for three weeks. On Wednesday, Anastasija met Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria at the Royal Palace. Then Anastasija took the opportunity to hand over a portrait she had drawn of the queen - to the queen herself.
What are you most looking forward to?
All I'm looking forward to is getting my hand operated on, and getting a leg prosthesis, says Anastasija.
But when and how it will happen, she does not know. Her mother, who is with her in Sweden, is trying to find a solution. It is important for Anastasija to get her hand operated on and to get her leg in order - so that she can become independent, she says.
Last year, the children's hospital Ochmatdyt outside Kyiv was bombed. Then the non-profit business organization Beredskapslyftet collected 20 million kronor to support the hospital. This winter, the children's hospital asked if they could receive 15 children who were injured in the war. On Monday, the children, who are between 8 and 17 years old, arrived in Sweden. Now they will be here for three weeks.
I myself have been to Ukraine three times and every night the air raid alarm goes off. Being able to sleep for three weeks is a luxury for these children who have been through the war for three years, says Fredrik Hillelson, one of the founders of Beredskapslyftet.
"Normality"
Kyrylo is 15 years old and comes from the city of Irpin, near Kyiv. He thinks Sweden is beautiful - especially the architecture.
The situation back home in Ukraine has become some kind of normality, Kyrylo means. But he thinks it's better now compared to when the war started.
What are your hopes for the future?
— I want to see an end to the war, I don't need anything more.
