Ukraine: Without home, but with hope in the heart

This is the new reality for the Velyka Dymerka community. Its main street used to be a place where locals shared what little they had, and neighbours chatted over garden fences. But in February 2022, the village was awoken by the shrill sound of air raid sirens and shelling overhead.

Grabbing a few essential items, two retired sisters – Anna and Larysa – fled to their neighbour’s cellar – a cold place without light where homemade jam and pickled vegetables were stored.

Five days later, a rocket also hit Anna’s sister’s house. “I loved our home so much, everything was made for comfort here. Flowers always grew nearby, grandchildren ran and ate fruit straight from the trees in our garden: berries, apples, raspberries. Also, my son made a swing for the children, and we often enjoyed spending time with our family there.” says Larysa.

But even now, Larysa, continues to tend her garden and dream that one day her family will be back from abroad. And they all will celebrate victory.

Oleg and Marina spent years building their dream house. This was the project of their life. They had planned it for a long time and had come up with every detail for a comfortable life. The family also had saved a lot of money to invest it in the house.

Their 25-year-old daughter Oksana lived an ordinary life before the war. She studied to become a teacher, graduated from the university in 2022 and hoped to spend this summer peacefully, as all previous years she had exams and did not have an opportunity to rest. As soon as the conflict escalation in the country was announced, she, her fiance and friends went from Kyiv to her native village – Vedyka Dymerka – thinking that it would be safer there. However, the village was occupied.

“When a stranger set foot in our yard, we took some valuables, jumped over the fence, ran through the forest, through the cemetery and were sheltered, fed and provided with accommodation by people in the village 20 km away from ours,” says Oksana.

Many villagers lost everything. Weeks of deadly shelling and rockets have left damage and destruction. But people remain positive.

“We will rebuild everything, restore everything and gather again at the big family table to celebrate the New Year. We also plan to renovate the family collection of toy cars that my grandfather started collecting,” says Oleg.