“I remember shells flying toward my home” — the story of Oksana from Kharkiv Oblast

Oksana lives with her son and her 12-year-old grandson in a small village in Kharkiv Oblast. Before the full-scale war, she worked in agriculture, had a stable income, and managed an active household. Today, the family’s life has changed dramatically.

Oksana lost her job due to hostilities. Her son, who has had a disability since childhood, works, but his income is not enough to cover even basic needs. The family is forced to economise on essentials — choosing the cheapest food and postponing healthcare expenses.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Oksana was staying with her mother in a neighbouring village, which quickly came under occupation.

“The hardest part was surviving the occupation. It is an experience you never forget. I remained physically unharmed, but emotionally I have not recovered to this day. I remember shells flying past me — toward my home village, where my family remained. And you can do nothing,” she says.

In March 2022, she managed to leave the occupied area. Since then, life has become a struggle not only with circumstances but also with the consequences of what she experienced. Stress has aggravated her chronic illnesses and complicated daily life. Despite her willingness to work, her health condition and the lack of opportunities in the village limit her choices.

Oksana learned about the possibility of receiving cash assistance from the village council. After registering, her family received payments under a project implemented by the NGO “Responsible Citizens” in partnership with Acted Ukraine, with financial support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA Ukraine).

“This was a great support for us. We were able to buy medicines — that was the priority. We bought proper food, even fish, treats for my grandson. They may seem like simple things, but before we could not afford them,” Oksana shares.

The family allocated part of the received funds to their household.

“We are thinking ahead. We want to plant something, grow something, maybe keep poultry. It is a chance to become at least a little more independent. The hardest thing now is rebuilding a life that cannot be restored. But we have to keep living,” Oksana explains.

Despite the losses, the difficult experience, and daily challenges, she maintains inner resilience and a desire to move forward.