A wheelchaired artist in Zaporizhzhia has been igniting hopes for others with her strong faith in life despite the shadows of deadly conflicts.

As a painter and a stage director, Marianna Smbatyan has been helping disabled Ukrainians to evacuate from the city affected by the war since this March.

Disabled with spinal muscular atrophy, Smbatyan herself chose to stay in the city to continue her works on painting cloths and theater stages.

Smbatyan said painting helps her find the inner peace and a way to connect with other people.

She teaches some students at home and also offers online classes for those who moved to other cities due to the war.

Busy with painting, teaching, writing and rehearsing, Smbatyan said she enjoyed the full days which make her forget her disability.

"For me, 24 hours a day is not enough. If only I have a few more hours every day!" she said.

Her student Katya Laponova, a 11-year-old girl, said Smbatyan has led her to a wonderful world of art.

"In the past, I was not good at drawing and drawing did not bring me any happiness. Now it is completely different. When I draw, I can be full of fantasies. I can also draw my own life," Laponova said.

This year, Smbatyan helped evacuate more than 400 disabled people from Zaporizhzhia to avoid the war. But she said she will not leave.

"I want to travel. I want to visit Europe and other foreign countries. But I want to go as a tourist, not a refugee. It sounds weird. But I have a feeling that I shouldn't leave here. It's not out of my reluctance to leave but my determination to stay here,” Smbatyan said.

Smbatyan usually spends weekends with her inclusive theater company named "Equal Opportunity" which was founded in 2014.

Many performers with disabilities are currently rehearing a play named "Light In the Darkness" where Smbatyan acts as scriptwriter, director and performer.

"When I was alone at home, I imagined myself as an actor on the stage and played some roles. But I know very well that I'm disabled, and those were just my fantasies. Then, I decided to become an actor and create the troupe," Smbatyan said.
The troupe of about 30 members has already staged four plays on the theater, focusing on topics such as domestic violence, social misunderstanding and suicide.

"Although these topics are relatively heavy, our interpretation is warm and sincere, and the audience will be pleasant and hopeful in the aftertaste. At the present time, we would often feel life hopeless," Smbatyan said.

Smbatyan hopes that the new play "Light In the Darkness" will be showcased on stages of different cities in Ukraine, igniting hopes for people living in the shadows of war.