“I never thought that after everything I had been through, I would be able to feel calm again. But when you have people around you who believe in you, it changes everything,” Yevhen shares.
Yevhen is full of inner dignity, caring, resilient, and devoted to his country. When Russian troops occupied the city of Polohy in 2022, he helped Ukrainian defenders and the local residents, supporting those who needed it most. It was for this help that the man was illegally deprived of his freedom.
It is hard to even imagine what he went through in captivity. But Yevhen survived despite the cruel trials. After his release, he had to start his life over again. He had to undergo treatment, move to Kyiv, and restore his health, strength, and inner balance. Despite the pain and loss, he retained his incredible kindness, calmness, and talent for seeing beauty in ordinary things. Yevhen is a photographer, and his photographs are not just pictures, but the gaze of a man who has gone through darkness and learned to find light even in the smallest details.
When Yevhen turned to the NGO Girls, the case manager took a comprehensive approach to helping him. She combined psychological, legal, social, and material support to restore his stability, security, and faith in his own strength. Yevhen received financial assistance for his basic needs, consultations with a professional psychologist who works with people who have survived captivity, and legal support. Most importantly, he was surrounded by care, humanity, and a positive attitude from the specialists throughout this time.
“The most valuable thing is to see how calmness gradually returns to his voice, a slight smile appears, and he begins to plan for the future again,” says the case manager.
Today, Yevhen lives in Kyiv, actively takes photographs, participates in volunteer initiatives, and inspires others with his own story, which is proof that professional support and a friendly attitude can heal even the deepest wounds.
Assistance is provided as part of the project “Comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation for survivors of captivity, their families and families of missing persons” with the support of German Doctors e.V.
