Ukraine: ‘The kindness of people keeps me going’—renovations bring stability to displaced families
Amid ongoing large-scale shelling, civilians across eastern, northern, and southern Ukraine are fleeing their homes in search of safety. While many initially rent accommodation, years of war and the uncertainty of tenancy in Ukraine have left them with no choice but to seek permanent housing solutions.
Tetiana, 41, is among those displaced. She was forced to leave her home in Hremyach, the northernmost settlement in Ukraine, after relentless attacks made life unbearable. Once the largest village in the community, Hremyach is now nearly deserted. At one point, it was occupied by the Russian Federation, and after returning to Ukrainian control, it became a frequent target for shelling.
Between September and December 2024, the conflict intensified, with a surge in violent incidents. Airstrikes, missile attacks, and drone assaults increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and heating facilities. The situation in Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts worsened significantly following Ukraine's offensive in Kursk, with Chernihiv Oblast alone recording an average of 100 attacks per week. Frequent bomb threats against public and commercial buildings further disrupted daily life, adding to the immense stress faced by residents.
A desperate escape
"We decided to leave when the shelling became unbearable," Tetiana recalls. "Houses were hit, and we lost electricity after the power lines were destroyed. There was no light, no communication, no medical care. People fled en masse. The children suffered terribly—my daughter cried constantly. Her nerves affected her skin, and my son also developed health issues."
During one particularly violent attack, a blast wave threw Tetiana to the ground, injuring her leg. The impact left her with a painful cyst that required extensive treatment.
Beyond safety, another major concern for Tetiana and her husband was ensuring their children could continue their education. They first evacuated their children, and then helped Tetiana’s mother and brother, who both have disabilities, leave. At first, they rented a small apartment, then another—but their housing situation remained unstable. When their landlord unexpectedly decided to sell the property, they found themselves homeless once again.
To secure some stability, the family decided to purchase half of a house within Novhorod-Siverskyi community but further from the border. They took out a loan to afford it.
"The security situation here is still difficult," Tetiana admits. "Every day, we hear drones, rockets, and explosions—we feel the vibrations. But we don't want to leave. This is our home. My husband and I were born and raised here. We have to believe that things will get better."
The house had been uninhabited for five years and had sustained damage from shelling. The windows were shattered, and the roof leaked. Repairs were desperately needed, but Tetiana and her husband, a human resources worker and a driver, struggled to afford the costs.
"Now we have to pay off the loan every month," she says. "We also need to clothe the children, cover utilities, and buy medicine. Winters are especially tough because heating is so expensive."
Thanks to funding from the European Union, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) helped Tetiana replace the windows and roof, making the premises liveable. In total, the project will assist more than 180 households in Chernihiv Oblast by insulating homes and replacing damaged windows, roofs, and doors.
"We finally have a decent roof and new windows—it's warm now. No more leaks, no more wind blowing through the house," she says. "We still need to fix the floors and remove mould caused by water damage, but we are working hard and will finish it ourselves. When I sent a photo of the repairs, I cried. It feels like nothing in life comes for free, but people and organisations like yours are truly helping… And not just us, but many others."
Despite the ongoing shelling, Tetiana and her family are determined to build a future here. Slowly, they are purchasing materials to make their new home comfortable. The house they originally lived in was badly damaged, but they still hope to salvage some of the materials for reconstruction.
"We’ve started cultivating the garden… It’s scary here, too—sometimes drones fly overhead in whole formations. I don’t know what the future holds, but I believe everything will be fine," she says, gesturing toward the land they are working to farm.
Lidiia, another resident of Chernihiv Oblast, faced a similar fate. She was forced to leave her home in the neighbouring Hremyach village of Buchky due to constant shelling.
"Every day, the village was attacked. There was no shop, no post office. I spent most of my time in the basement. Eventually, it became impossible to stay," Lidiia recalls. "My son found this house and helped me buy it—though we couldn't pay in full at once. The owners allowed us to defer some of the payment. It had been abandoned, the windows were old, and that first winter, I had to sleep in a jacket."
At 64, Lidiia was forced to relocate deeper into the Novhorod-Siverskyi community in 2023. However, her new home was in dire need of repairs.
"We tried to seal the window cracks with paint to stop the drafts and covered them with blankets," she says.
As part of the same aid project, DRC replaced the windows and insulated the roof of Lidiia’s house.
"This year, for the first time, I can take off my coat indoors because it's finally warm," she says with a smile. "But more than the warmth, it’s the kindness of people that has kept me going. They came, they helped… and I feel I’m not alone."
Lidiia sincerely hopes that the war will end soon. She also dreams of returning home village one day.
The ongoing crisis
According to the latest DRC’s protection monitoring data, displaced civilians remain at high risk of rights violations. Among the surveyed households, 51% reported experiencing protection violations, though this marked a 10% decrease compared to previous reports. Alarmingly, 86% of those who reported violations were affected by shelling or missile attacks, facing a direct risk of injury or death. An additional 20% encountered movement restrictions during displacement.
Despite hopes of returning home, fewer displaced persons now express a desire to do so. The percentage of internally displaced persons (IDPs) wishing to return to their areas of origin has fallen from 52% to 33%. The main factors influencing return intentions include improved security (72%), cessation of hostilities (64%), restored infrastructure (15%), and the repair or compensation of damaged homes (15%).
"God forbid anyone should have to leave their home. I think if the war ends, I will return to my home. I don't know if my house is damaged, I haven't been there for a long time, in that nightmare which forced me to flee," Lidiia says with tears in her eyes.
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