You can live your usual life, make plans, and pursue your dreams. But then one morning changes everything. February 24, 2022, was that morning for millions of Ukrainians. For Daria's family, it was the moment when their peaceful world was shattered by explosions, and uncertainty enveloped their lives like a dark cloud.
That morning, Daria's husband did not hesitate to take her and their son Timur to the grandmother's village, hoping that it would be safer there. He immediately returned to Melitopol and went to the military registration and enlistment office. Being at the front, the man told Daria, “I couldn't have done it any other way.” His decision was firm and unequivocal.
The village had frequent power and communication outages, and anxiety only grew. At first, little Timur accepted the explanation that his father had gone to defend them from enemies, but later he began to cry and get nervous. Daria felt that she could not stay there any longer, and despite her fear and uncertainty, she decided to return to occupied Melitopol.
Life under occupation was difficult and dangerous. Russian soldiers flooded the streets, and she was stressed every time she left the house. She had to be careful all the time. Problems with food, power and communication outages were only part of the terrible reality in which the family found themselves. Daria was constantly afraid that the occupiers might come for her because her husband was a volunteer defending Ukraine, and this could be a reason for persecution.
After four months of such a life, Daria realized that she had to save herself and her son. In July, she decided to go to Zaporizhzhia. The journey was extremely dangerous, including Russian checkpoints, interrogations, and fear for her life. “Only when we found ourselves in the Ukrainian government-controlled territory was I able to breathe a little easier. But even then, it was hard to believe that we were safe,” Daria recalls.
Zaporizhzhia became a new challenge, and constant shelling and bombing forced the woman to pack her things again. Panic attacks, tears, and constant fear haunted her. Once cheerful and open, Timur became withdrawn and nervous. Daria realized that they needed to move on.
The next refuge for the family was Poltava, a city where they had neither friends nor family. Daria rented an apartment with her own money and tried to create at least some semblance of a normal life for her son. Her husband would sometimes come to visit them on vacation. Their brief meetings gave her the strength to hold on.
But fate dealt another painful blow. Daria became pregnant, and in her seventh month, she learned that her husband had died. Officially, he is still considered missing. “I live in a state of uncertain loss. Is this really my life? How did everything turn into a never-ending nightmare? It sometimes seems as if it didn’t happen to me, as if it were some kind of a terrible dream,” says Daria.
Today, she is the mother of two sons, Timur and Renat. After everything he went through, Timur became withdrawn and stopped trusting people. Daria understood that he needed help and found it in the NGO Girls.
The “Girls. Children” club became a place where the family received support. Timur began working with a psychologist and gradually opened up, learning to talk about his feelings. Daria sees how her son is changing. He often comforts his mother when he sees her tears now.
After working with a psychologist, Timur has become interested in creativity. He enjoys attending master classes and creating colorful crafts, into which he puts a piece of himself. He gives his works to his mother and brother with warmth, care, and love.
“When I think back on everything we’ve been through, it sometimes seems impossible. But life still goes on. And there are people around who help us get through it,” says Daria.
This story is about loss, pain, and strength. It is about how important it is not to lose hope, even in the darkest times. Daria’s life will never be the same again, but she believes that there is light ahead. Because there are people around her who are ready to support her, lend a shoulder, and restore her faith in the future.
The assistance is provided within the project “Support to Children and Adolescents Affected by the War in Ukraine,” implemented with the support of Kindernothilfe.
