On All Saints’ Day — Halloween — we have a unique opportunity to look our fears straight in the eye. People often hide and run away from themselves, especially during times of war, when to feel can be unbearably painful.
The idea behind BACKSTAGE’s new special project was to go against that instinct — to open up instead. Because the scariest thing we can do to ourselves is to hide who we are and how we feel. BACKSTAGE chose to show the opposite — emotions and fears that everyone knows, but which we don’t always have to conceal. We invited people to wear their fears — to embody and live through them, on this day and beyond.
To do this, we brought together influencers who revealed themselves through hidden emotions, emphasised wrinkles born from fear and disappointment, and shared their deepest fears — and how they’ve faced them during the war.
MASHA SHCHERBAK (MASH)
Singer and poet
What is your greatest fear in life?
“The fear of death. It’s always been the strongest one since childhood. It’s a fear that sometimes paralyses me — but I’ve learned to navigate it,” says singer and poet Masha Shcherbak.
“Now I actually find a lot of inspiration in this fear. From childhood, it was one of my biggest ones, and it still remains, but now it also gives me strength. It reminds me that nothing lasts forever — and I carry that awareness throughout my life. It grounds me — both in good and difficult moments. We all strive for perfection and ideal circumstances, but life is always a mix of ‘here and now’ and ‘it won’t last forever’ — both light and bittersweet.”
What helps you face your fears during wartime?
“Not fighting them. Understanding that fear is a part of us — and we can’t exist without it. It worries me when people try to resist something that’s an essential part of themselves.
We can’t survive without fear, because without it, we wouldn’t live. Fear is not just earthly — it’s spiritual. I deeply support the spiritual processes happening in our society now, but we must remember that true spirituality is integrating this knowledge into earthly life. That’s what real spirituality is. So, instead of fighting fears, we need to acknowledge them, accept them, live with them — and give them their rightful place in our lives.”
KHRYSTYNA HORNYAK
Notary, founder of the project ORA
What is your greatest fear in life?
I think it’s the fear of dying in pain. As someone who once couldn’t walk after a severe spine injury, I know how unbearable that kind of physical suffering can be — both for yourself and for
your loved ones.
What helps you face your fears during wartime?
To be useful. To do more. To balance between today’s reality and the inner world.
And when it gets too overwhelming — to stop, rest, and gather new strength.
KSENIIA DRAGANIUK
Co-founder of NGO Zemliachky
What is your greatest fear in life?
I have many fears, but the strongest one is loss — the fear of losing loved ones.
What helps you face your fears during wartime?
War is, in essence, all about loss. That’s why I believe the best way to fight the fear of death is through life itself. Living fully and meaningfully is the greatest manifesto against death.
What is your greatest fear in life?
My greatest fear is showing weakness. I tend to wear a mask of perfection and try to hide my fears from everyone, believing that my vulnerabilities should never be seen by others.
What helps you face your fears during wartime?
To face them — definitely. Taking time alone helps, because when I’m by myself, I have the space to process and overcome my fears. Probably my harshest critic is me.
When I’m alone, I work through it — I light candles and try to reconnect with myself.
