Kharkiv Pensioners Find Refuge in Chișinău: ‘We Can’t Live with Constant Anxiety

Olga and Valeriu, two pensioners from Kharkiv, Ukraine, packed up their memories and decided to leave their war-torn country. Olga, a pianist, and Valeriu, a piano repair specialist, saw their hopes for a peaceful and restful retirement shattered by the war.

The decision to leave was not an easy one for them. Initially, they sought refuge with relatives in the suburbs of Kyiv, but even there, they couldn’t find the peace they longed for. Despite postponing their departure from Ukraine several times, the deep-seated fear in their hearts finally pushed them to take drastic action.

“We can’t live with constant anxiety; recently, we stopped leaving the house altogether,” Valeriu confessed. The pensioners decided to come to Chișinău, and on the train, they met a woman who recommended they visit the Safe Space at Chișinău’s train station.

At the station, they received psychological counseling from a Safe Space specialist, who informed them about their rights in Moldova, including free accommodation, temporary protection, medical assistance, and employment opportunities. Olga also received a personal hygiene kit.

Through the hotline (080080011), the couple applied for accommodation and were transported by taxi, with costs covered by AO “Homecare,” to the accommodation center where they were assigned housing.

This activity is part of the “Improving Access to Essential Health and Protection Services for Refugees from Ukraine and Host Communities” program, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Moldova) in Moldova and funded by the European Union.

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