Ukraine: Holding on to home — Supporting families in Cherkaska Lozova

When we enter Alina’s* yard, she and her teenage daughter, Vira*, greet us. There’s warmth in Alina’s voice, though it is tinged with quiet fatigue. Vira is on the autism spectrum, and the family lived through months of intense shelling.

Before the war, Alina shared this home with her mother, who passed away during the early months of the invasion. Her son stayed nearby for work. When airstrikes intensified, Alina decided to stay — evacuation was not an option.

“We would sleep on the floor, dressed and ready to run. I’d sit with my daughter, cover her ears, wrap her in a blanket and give her a motanka doll to hold,” Alina recalls. “Every day, I lit candles in front of a map of Ukraine covered with icons. I asked for protection — I’ve never prayed so much in my life.”

One day, an airstrike destroyed a nearby house, and the blast shattered their windows. They weren’t injured — Alina believes a linden tree in their yard shielded them. But the damage brought cold and health issues. Neighbours helped board up the broken glass, and for months, plastic sheeting served as insulation.

A return home — despite the cold

Svitlana*, another resident of Cherkaska Lozova, moved to the village as a teenager. She now lives in a single-story house with her husband, two daughters, and elderly mother-in-law.

During a period of heavy shelling, they spent a month without electricity. Eventually, the family evacuated to Bohodukhiv district, leaving their dog with relatives and their cat with neighbours. Returning after three months was not easy — shelling continued, and the house was cold.

“There were cracked windows and broken frames,” Svitlana says. “In winter, it drops to 13 degrees in the kitchen. We use so much gas to heat the house that the bills become unmanageable.”

Barriers to assistance

Since May 2023, Ukrainians whose homes were damaged by war can apply for state compensation under the eRecovery programme. But Alina and Svitlana both faced legal obstacles.

In Alina’s case, the house was still formally owned by her late mother and tied up in inheritance procedures. Svitlana’s mother-in-law, the legal owner of their home, is bedridden and unable to reissue documents.

DRC is working in partnership with local authorities to identify such cases.

“Our role is to assist people who can’t access the state system due to legal or administrative challenges,” explains Dmytro, a DRC Shelter and Settlement Assistant.

“We provide financial support to carry out urgent repairs based on the level of damage.”

Assistance ranges from light repairs like replacing windows and doors (approximately $800) to medium repairs (around $3,000). Both women received support and have begun restoring their homes.

Staying grounded

Despite the risks, many people in Cherkaska Lozova are choosing to stay. The village has lost more than half its population since the start of the war, but 1,500 people remain.

Svitlana continues to work as a children’s rehabilitation therapist, and her daughter attends the local school. Her husband cares for his mother and tends to their garden. “We thought about leaving again,” he says. “But our life is here. If we go, we’ll take our three cats — Kusia, Murchyk, and Lyasia — with us. But for now, we stay.”

Alina, too, finds strength in staying. She dreams of raising poultry again. “I understand why others leave,” she says. “But I won’t abandon my home. This is my land. All I ask of God is the strength to face whatever comes next with dignity.”

*Names changed for safety purposes.