Between the Fear of War and Fleeting Peace: Olena’s Story
Olena is from the city of Chernihiv. A doctor by profession, she recounts how Russian soldiers entered her city to “liberate” them. Troubled by the war, she periodically takes her daughter and 1.5-year-old grandson to Moldova for rest. Moreover, she constantly worries about her daughter and grandson, fearing for their lives.
A month ago, when her daughter was home with her son, a shell hit the building where they lived. Several apartments were destroyed. While their apartment did not suffer significant damage, the fear settled even deeper in their hearts. “There are calm days when the alarm sounds only a few times; on days when the conflict intensifies, it can go off up to 15 times a day,” Olena says. On those days, her family prefers to stay in the bunker. She shared that she has come to appreciate peace more and that every loud sound now causes her discomfort.
Their time in Moldova is coming to an end. At the train station in Chișinău, Olena and her family prepare to return to Ukraine. The platform is crowded with people carrying luggage, each with their own story and destination. The atmosphere is busy, signaling a hectic day of travel. Olena and her daughter carry their bags with determination, each step bringing them closer to home, even though uncertainty and danger still linger. Before leaving Chișinău, Olena received counseling from a Safe Space psychologist, offering her a brief moment of respite in the chaos of her war-torn life.
With heavy hearts but full of hope, they board the train, ready to face the harsh reality of the war in Ukraine once again. Each visit to Chișinău offers them a moment of normalcy and peace, a reminder of the calm they continue to fight for.
This activity is part of the program “Improving Access to Essential Health Services and Protection from Gender-Based Violence for Refugees from Ukraine and Host Communities,” supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova) and funded by the European Union.
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