Ukraine: Surviving years under occupation and shelling, Kateryna finds peace in sewing

Kateryna has bright green eyes, a yellow-orange hat and a red scarf. Yet this seemingly cheerful woman has endured a traumatic ordeal, evident in the scars on her hands — traces of a devastating fire caused by shelling.

When she speaks, her hands and voice begin to tremble, and she stutters. The events she lived through remain painfully vivid, and a stroke she suffered has made it difficult for her to gather her thoughts.

She recalls that when the full-scale invasion began, people fled her village en masse. Once RF troops arrived, searches and arrests followed.

“My husband was also arrested and taken to ‘the pit,’” Kateryna says. The phrase “to the pit” carries a sinister meaning and is often associated with torture.

After this ordeal, her husband left the village. Kateryna did not want to leave because she was caring for her sick mother, who could not walk and depended entirely on her.

Fire that destroyed everything

Kateryna lived in constant fear for her life. In addition to the shelling, she regularly heard threats directed at her.

In March last year, a shell struck her car, hitting the fuel tank directly. Kateryna ran out into the street, still in her house clothes, completely disoriented. She believes she most likely suffered a concussion. The fire quickly spread to the house.

The flames engulfed room after room. Several times, Kateryna and neighbours who tried to help attempted to enter the burning house to rescue her mother, but they were unable to reach her.

“What they threw at us was a flammable liquid, like napalm,” Kateryna says in a steely voice that sometimes rises to a scream.

Kateryna’s entire life was in that house — her documents, family photographs, memories of her sons — everything was reduced to ashes.

She was taken to the hospital with severe burns. After receiving treatment, she made the decision to leave. With no home, no possessions and no mother, nothing remained to keep her there.

Travelling out of the occupied territories is a major challenge, often requiring passage through several countries. Nevertheless, Kateryna was determined to reach relatives in Kyiv Oblast and later in Zaporizhzhia.

Situation in the occupied territories

Four years into the full-scale war, Ukraine continues to suffer devastating consequences for civilians. Front-line villages and towns are being hollowed out; communities along the northern border live under constant threat; and people in occupied territories face severe violations of their fundamental rights.

In its latest Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs underlines that close to one million civilians in territories occupied by the RF remain largely cut off from essential services and protection systems. They are exposed to ongoing insecurity and severe restrictions on movement. A worsening water crisis is undermining access to safe drinking water and heating, increasing public health risks and compounding already fragile living conditions.

Children in these areas are reportedly subjected to grave violations of their rights and to family separation, heightening the risk of long-term psychological harm. Vulnerable people, including women and girls, face increased risks of trafficking, sexual exploitation, gender-based violence and other forms of abuse.

While front-line communities face the most acute dangers, drone and missile attacks continue across the country. Households are grappling with mounting economic pressure, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted services. More than 2.5 million homes have been damaged or destroyed, severely affecting housing, transport, energy, agriculture, and water systems. Mental health concerns are widespread, with more than 70 per cent of adults reporting anxiety, depression, or severe stress.

Kateryna is gradually recovering from her ordeal. Sewing has become her refuge. She had long wanted to develop her skills, so she turned to the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) for support.

“I believe this is one of the most in-demand professions in our country today. Sewing is always needed. When I focus on my work, I don’t think about the past,” she says.

Today, Kateryna sews clothes for herself and others. She is also taking an additional course to improve her computer skills — DRC also provided her with a laptop.

“If I survived, it means I was given a chance. And I must use it. Education is my opportunity to start from scratch,” she adds.

The DRC can support people affected by explosive ordnance thanks to funding from the European Union. Assistance is tailored to each individual’s needs and may include medication, training courses or resources to help create an inclusive environment — support that eases the transition and helps people adapt to new circumstances.

*Name was changed for confidentiality purposes.