From Home to Shelter

A Life Shattered by War

"Everything started on February 24th, 2022. There were shootings far away from us; we heard them, but we didn’t think it would come closer," recalls Dasha. But the war did come closer, much closer. Within two weeks, soldiers stormed her village. The chaos that followed was unimaginable. Food became scarce, vital documents were destroyed, and storehouses were raided.

Amid this turmoil, Dasha gave birth to her son, now two years old. "I had preterm birth. They brought me to the nearest hospital, but it wasn't a maternity hospital anymore; it was occupied," she recounts. The conditions were dire, and she had to search for humanitarian aid to feed her newborn.

Surviving Under Occupation

Life under occupation was fraught with danger and uncertainty. "Some people started to steal from abandoned houses; others tried to communicate with the occupiers to get basic necessities," Dasha explains. Her own family was torn apart by the war. "My mom is still in our partially destroyed house," she says, her voice heavy with emotion.

When Ukrainian forces began to reclaim the village, the fighting intensified. The relentless bombardment left her village, Kopanky, in ruins. "My village is destroyed. Kopanky does not exist anymore."

A Struggle for Normalcy

Despite the devastation from the occupation, Dasha tried to hold on to hope. "During the months after the occupation, I didn’t care that my house was damaged; I would pay to repair it somehow, just to stay in our house," she says. But the situation only worsened. Her partner, one of the Ukrainian soldiers that helped reclaim her village and the father of her daughter, went missing, leaving her to care for her children alone. "I became pregnant again. We were hoping that everything would be okay, but everything went in another direction," she laments.

In October 2022, with no home to return to and an increase in attacks, Dasha made the heart-wrenching decision to leave. "There was no space in the car that was evacuating me for my mother. So, I made the difficult decision to leave for my children. I took three bags, my child, and left. My daughter was born in Dnipro."

Challenges in a New Life

Life in the shelter in Dnipro brought its own set of challenges. The first center Dasha stayed in was overcrowded and primarily housed victims of domestic violence, creating a tense environment. "There was much pressure. I couldn’t sleep for a whole month and had to be put on antidepressants."

Despite receiving some support as an internally displaced person (IDP) and a single mother, Dasha's future remained uncertain. "I receive 8000 UAH ($197 US dollars) per month, which helps us survive somehow. But I don’t know for how long I will get this assistance. If one of the children gets sick, the hospital expenses will be 5000-6000 UAH at least."

One day, without explanation and warning, the center approached Dasha and asked her to leave. She found refuge in another shelter, supported by World Vision and its partners, where she now receives daily child support. Although there are still challenges, this newfound support system not only helps her care for her children but offers a glimmer of hope amid the turmoil.

Resilience Amid Adversity

Through all this, Dasha's resilience shines through. "I have no right for weakness. I am alone; there is nobody to help me. There are two of them, and there is only me. No matter how hard it is, I keep holding on because I have to take care of them."

Dasha's story is a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of mothers in the face of unimaginable hardship. As the war in Ukraine continues to displace millions, her journey underscores the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and the enduring hope for a better future.