Stories of Resilience: Oksana’s Journey Through War and Hope
Oksana, wearing a simple t-shirt and her short black hair framing a face lit by a warm and friendly smile, exudes an openness and optimism rarely seen. She is a woman who, despite the trials and challenges she has faced, has chosen to remain positive and grateful for every moment of peace and support she receives.
In recent years, Oksana has endured far more than she ever imagined. The first time she arrived in Chișinău, it was at the start of the war, fleeing with a heavy heart and leaving behind everything she held dear. Each morning, she woke with the hope that one day, everything would return to normal. Her time in Chișinău was long enough for the city to leave a mark on her heart, but her soul yearned to return to Kyiv. So, after a while, she went back to the Ukrainian capital, a city devastated by conflict and suffering.
Returning to Kyiv was not easy. The once-vibrant city now felt grayer and more oppressive. The constant sound of air raid sirens had become a part of daily life. After nearly two years of resilience, Oksana decided to take a short break. When she stepped off the train and saw Safe Space in the same place, with the same staff, she was overwhelmed with emotion. She hadn’t expected to see them again, and her gratitude was deep. She hugged everyone warmly, thanking them for the support they had given to people like her, who fight every day for a normal life. Her positive spirit, reflected in her “thumbs up” gesture, symbolizes mutual trust and support.
“It feels like the war will never end,” Oksana confided. “Although we’ve grown used to it, we miss the peace from before, the happy people, the summer festivals, our life before the war.” Her eyes reflect a longing for the past but also a quiet determination not to give up.
Her mother, Nadejda, a simple woman with a heart of steel, never lost her sense of humor, even in the toughest moments. “A lot of people have left the country. It’s just me, Vera, and Liuba, the neighbors,” she joked, referring to their names, which mean Faith, Hope, and Love. “And that’s enough to defeat evil.”
Despite all the hardships, Oksana’s family has always found the strength to laugh and live with hope. Though tired, they look ahead, convinced that one day, the sun will rise again over Kyiv, bringing the longed-for peace. And in that light, Oksana knows she will finally find the safety she seeks, at home, in the city she has never stopped loving.
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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