Side by side, Ukrainian and Russian flatmates march for peace

Russian Marketing student Daria Gorokhova, 33, and her Ukrainian roommate Daria Dremliuga, 24, student of Master of Science in Management, talk with Ukrainian Vladimir Zilinchuk, 34, who lives and works in Spain, during an anti-war protest in support of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion, in Barcelona, Spain March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

Ukrainian student Daria Dremliuga and her Russian flatmate moved in together last summer, never imaging that just a few months later they would be marching through their new city, Barcelona, to demand that Russia end a war.

A native Russian speaker, Dremliuga's life was turned upside down last week when Russia unleashed a relentless bombardment on her home city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest.

Ukrainian woman Daria Dremliuga, 24, student of Master of Science in Management, lights a candle during an anti-war protest in support of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion, in Barcelona, Spain March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

"We lived in peace, we were happy before (they) came and bombed our homes," Dremliuga, a 24-year-old management student, said as she got ready to attend an anti-war rally with her flatmate Daria Gorokhova.

"My city...is being destroyed... I don't know how many years it will take to rebuild... and it's one man's fault."

Dremliuga's 10-year-old brother, sister, mother and stepfather - who she regularly calls and texts - are still back home, seeking shelter from the barrage where they can.

Russian Daria Gorokhova, 33, a marketing student and her Ukrainian roommate Daria Dremliuga, 24, student of Master of Science in Management, print anti-war posters, before attending an anti-war protest in support of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion, in Barcelona, Spain March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

"My relatives sleep in basements, in metro stations, just to stay alive," she said before pulling out her phone to show a video of Kharkiv's night sky scarred red by explosions.

Though far from home, Dremliuga is still putting up a fight. On Tuesday, she painted her country's flag and the words 'no war' on her face before heading out with her flatmate to demonstrate.

"WE NEED TO UNITE"

Ukrainian Daria Dremliuga, 24, student of Master of Science in Management, shows a video of a bomb explosion in her hometown, Kharkiv, next to her Russian roommate Daria Gorokhova, 33, (not pictured), a marketing student, during an interview with Reuters, in their apartment at El Raval neighborhood, in Barcelona, Spain March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

Like many Russians living on the Iberian peninsula, Gorokhova has joined protests against a war about which she feels only anger and sadness.

"I'm really sorry and saddened by what is going on now, and I'm trying to support her with this tragedy," Gorokhova, a 33 year-old who works in marketing while studying, said as she sat on a couch next to Dremliuga.

Later on, side by side in Barcelona's Catalunya square, they sang 'Bez Boyu', a Ukrainian song by Okean Elzi with the lyric "I won't give up without a fight", and joined thousands shouting: "Russians out of Ukraine."

Ukrainian Daria Dremliuga, 24, a Master's student in Management Sciences, paints her face in the colors of the Ukrainian flag and writes "NO WAR" at her room before she and her Russian roommate, Daria Gorokhova, 33 (not pictured) a marketing student, give an interview to Reuters, in their apartment at the El Raval neighborhood, in Barcelona, Spain March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

"I'm feeling very bad," a tearful Gorokhova said, contemplating the catastrophe that a third world war would entail.

"This shouldn't be happening... in our countries."

Dremliuga urged all Gorokhova compatriots to follow in her flatmate's footsteps.

Ukrainian Daria Dremliuga, 24, student of Master of Science in Management, reacts during an interview with Reuters, in her apartment at El Raval neighborhood, in Barcelona, Spain March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

"We need to unite," she said. "Please, Russians, go out onto the squares."

(Writing by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Catarina Demony and John Stonestreet)

Russian Daria Gorokhova, 33, a marketing student, shows a video of an anti-war protest in support of Ukraine amid Russia's invasion in St. Petersburg, next to her Ukrainian roommate Daria Dremliuga, 24, student of Master of Science in Management, during an interview with Reuters, in their apartment at El Raval neighborhood, in Barcelona, Spain March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Nacho Doce