For Iryna Zhuribida, the "Tree of Memory" in Zaporizhzhia has now become one of the sacred places for her family – a renowned dynasty of railway workers at Zaporizhstal.

The woman does not visit her home town and the plant as often as she would wish, for she has been serving for six months in the 53rd Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh. She begins the story of her service with recollections of peaceful days. 

“With warmth I recall our last family holiday before the war – my husband, the children and I went to Berdiansk Zoo. We rarely made plans at all; as a rule, we did everything spontaneously: today at home, and tomorrow off somewhere. We are, in fact, a family of adventurers. That made it all the more exciting," Iryna recalls. 

The full-scale war abruptly interrupted the family’s peaceful life. Iryna’s husband, Maksym, an employee of the railway transport department at Zaporizhstal, joined the airborne assault troops from the very first days. The woman supported her husband’s decision.

“I am a military wife: whenever I could, I took time off or spent weekends constantly visiting my husband, even when he only had one day of leave. I travelled to Kostiantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Dnipro – wherever there was the opportunity. Before the war, we never had such long separations, so even seeing each other for just one day was a joy,” says Iryna.

Iryna has shared 20 happy years of marriage with her husband, Maksym. The couple were raising a son and a daughter. They were always together – both at Zaporizhstal and at home. The Zhuribida family is a well-known dynasty of railway workers among the staff at Zaporizhstal. In total, nine members of the family dynasty worked at the plant at different times. Maksym is the son of the founder of the dynasty, Mykola Mykhailovych Zhuribida.  

Unfortunately, Mykola Mykhailovych passed away in January 2025. In his honour, a commemorative plaque was placed in the factory square he cared for. 

"Mykola Mykhailovych was a man with a big heart! He loved people, he loved his work, and he loved the railway. He passed on these values not only to us, his family, but also to all his fellow railway workers. Maksym always looked up to his father: he was just as sincere and strong. I saw him cry for the first time only when he went off to war, during the heavy fighting in Luhansk region... This is something that leaves a lasting mark on the soul," says Iryna. 

Zaporizhstal employee Maksym Zhuribida defended Luhansk region in the role of a rifleman. His wife helped him cope with the hardships of military service.

"Whenever Maksym and I exchanged messages, our first phrase was always: 'Bunny, hi, I’m doing fine' – it was like a password, a way of saying everything was okay. I had those words engraved on a bracelet that I always carry with me," the woman says.  

In 2023, the soldier was killed during a mortar attack. To help cope with the loss, the woman took part in the project 'My Beloved, I Live' and completed the psychological rehabilitation course 'Unbreakable Mother', sponsored by Metinvest.  

"It was a great source of psychological support, and above all, you were surrounded by people who understood your pain and were going through the same difficult journey of losing their husband. It helped me," Iryna notes. 

In honour of the fallen hero, the family placed a bell on the "Tree of Memory." 

"Such memorials are truly needed – so that everyone remembers the value of human life and the heroic deeds of our defenders. We must remember and honour," Iryna affirms. 

Soon after, Iryna joined the ranks of the Armed Forces herself. For the past six months, the woman has been serving as the commander of a logistics platoon in the 53rd Brigade. She feels she has chosen the right path: 

"When I first arrived at the base, there were heavy shellings. I was frightened and thought it was a sign – that I had made a mistake. But then I realised that I had made the right choice, and that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Yes, I cannot take up arms or fight, but I can still be useful in other ways: to work with documents and to support my comrades-in-arms, which is precisely what I do."

In making such a serious decision, the woman was supported by her children and her second family – her colleagues. 

"Zaporizhstal provides support to our unit: they provided wood-burning stoves, metal brackets, printers, and other office equipment. They also offer moral support – they call, regularly check on how I’m doing, express concern, and stay in touch. I worry about them too, as they are doing work that is no less important, serving in the rear," says Iryna. 

At present, Iryna has a great deal of work to do in the military. Despite this, she admits that she always makes time to dream. 

"I long for a just peace and for my loved ones to be healthy, and for my children and I to be together," Iryna concludes. 

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 1,370 employees of Zaporizhstal have joined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The plant supports its employees, and the teams help their colleagues and await their return from military service.