Ukraine: Surviving the Chernihiv bombing—Alina’s story of loss and recovery

Where her daughter’s school once stood, there is now nothing but desolation—gaping craters marking the foundation’s former place. It was there, in a school basement, that Alina, her husband, and their daughter sought shelter during the relentless rocket strikes.

“The damaged school was dismantled last summer,” recalls Alina, 32. “When the fighting began, my daughter was terrified of the explosions. The school felt like a safe haven, so we ran there. But it was just a crowded basement—stuffy, airless. It was difficult to breathe.”

The lack of ventilation forced Alina and her daughter to go up to the first floor for fresh air. They did the same on the day of the attack. However, when a fighter plane approached, preparing to drop its deadly payload, seven-year-old Sonia* instinctively returned to the basement. Moments later, the school was hit by two bombs.

“I was sitting with my back to the window. I never heard the plane coming. I survived only because I was in the corner between the walls—that was the only reason the debris didn’t crush me,” Alina says.

Though blood streamed from her face, torn by shards of glass, she fought through the agony, desperately searching for her daughter. Her arms and back were also riddled with glass.

Emergency services were overwhelmed, prioritising those in the most critical condition—people who had lost limbs or could no longer stand. Alina and her husband were left to fend for themselves until the police finally took her to hospital.

“The doctors gave me hope that my eye might heal, but the miracle never came. There was so much glass embedded in my face—it took months for them to remove it all,” she says.

As the bombardment continued, life in Chernihiv became unbearable. Alina’s home, damaged by shrapnel, was left without gas, electricity, or heating. Forced to leave, the family sought refuge in the village of her husband's relatives, where basic utilities were still operational.

Struggling with identity and recovery

During her treatment, Alina became deeply self-conscious about her appearance. She now realises she needed psychological support at the time but, instead, she locked herself away, crying for days.

“I looked in the mirror and saw a deformed face—pale, with a grey eye. I lived with it for over a year. Even when I covered part of my face with my hair, people flinched when I spoke or turned towards them. That’s when I decided—I needed an eye implant.”

The procedure took place in Odesa, in southern Ukraine. While the implant itself was free, the overall treatment cost over 50,000 hryvnias (> €1,200). As a person with a disability, Alina receives small government assistance but had to cover most medical expenses herself.

The challenge of finding employment and overcoming prejudice

Now adapting to life with one eye, Alina still faces daily challenges.

“I take my daughter to her dance lessons in the evening. We walk hand in hand because I stumble on uneven pavement. I struggle to judge depth and constantly have to turn my head to look around,” she explains.

Doctors have advised her to undergo further facial surgery, but the thought of another operation terrifies her.

Her injuries have also affected her ability to work. Before the full-scale invasion, she was an office manager at a door store while working part-time as a manicurist. Now, prolonged concentration gives her severe headaches, making manicures impossible.

“It’s hard for me to focus for long periods. That’s why I had to stop doing nails,” she says.

Her office job pays just 10,000 hryvnias (240€)—a salary that barely covers their expenses. Her husband, a driver, earns little as well. Desperate for a better future, Alina sought new opportunities, applying for a grant from the DRC. The funding allowed her to purchase a laptop, specialised computer glasses, and polarised sunglasses to protect her remaining eye.

The bigger picture: support for survivors requires enhancement

Ukraine continues to pay a heavy price for the ongoing war. In February 2025 alone, 123 civilians were killed and 567 injured. Although this marked a 24% decrease from January, it was still a staggering 35% increase compared to February 2024.

At a recent roundtable on victim assistance in Kyiv, organised by the DRC with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency support, experts highlighted urgent areas requiring improvement—medical care, rehabilitation, access to education and employment, and inclusive living conditions.

Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of the League of the Strong NGO, presented research revealing that one in five survivors in Ukraine cannot find remote work due to employer prejudice.

Fortunately, Alina has managed to carve out a new path. She now helps companies find staff remotely and hopes to expand her client base across Ukraine.

“I believe that if you have the will, everything will work out,” she says with determination. And we truly hope it will.

*Names are changed for confidentiality purposes.