Marko, ein junger Aktivist aus Donezk, änderte seinen Namen, um sich von Beleidigungen und Pro-Besatzungs-Verbindungen zu lösen

Marko Krapka is a 22-year-old activist and journalism student originally from Donetsk who changed their full name as an act of personal liberation. They survived long-term domestic violence inflicted by their parents – abuse that shaped their childhood and ultimately led them to sever all ties with their family. Their mother is openly pro-occupation, which deepened both the political and personal rupture between them.

For Marko, changing their name was essential rather than symbolic. They rejected the surname connected to their abusive family, refusing to carry a name given by people who had harmed them. Their chosen surname, Krapka – meaning “period” in Ukrainian – signifies a full stop, a decisive end to that chapter of their life. The single-letter patronymic “I” underscores their break from imposed identity and their insistence on defining themself on their own terms.

Now Marko combines university studies with extensive civic engagement. They are active in the LGBTQ+ community while also supporting Ukraine’s liberation and territorial integrity.

Despite the trauma of their upbringing, Lviv holds warm and grounding memories. In contrast to the violence of their childhood, the city represents safety, friendship, and moments of calm that have helped them rebuild stability and imagine a future shaped by their own choices.

[https://suspilne.media/donbas/1221898-istoria-pereselenca-z-donecka-so-zminili-ima-cerez-nasilstvo-v-simi/](https://suspilne.media/donbas/1221898-istoria-pereselenca-z-donecka-so-zminili-ima-cerez-nasilstvo-v-simi/)