On February 24, Halyna’s niece alerted the family about the war. Despite this, Lyudmyla went to work while Halyna prepared for evacuation. Her grandson soon joined them, and they sheltered in their damp, cold basement with Halyna’s immobile mother. Heavy shelling shattered their windows and doors, forcing them to seek refuge at Halyna’s sister’s house, transporting the grandmother in a wheelbarrow and bringing their dog along.

With air bombings continuing, the family reached Chernihiv and stayed with friends, but constant fear of encroaching soldiers led Lyudmyla to move them further away. They evacuated to stay with relatives for two months. Halyna’s mother’s recent death deeply affected the family.

On March 18, 2022, a direct hit destroyed their home. Returning to their village in the spring, they started living in a modular town. They hope for a miracle to rebuild their home on their property.

Lyudmyla is pregnant and expecting in the fall, while her husband fights on the front lines, protecting the family and working to restore freedom for his country. Her greatest desire is for the safe return of her husband and the birth of their child on the home site where three generations prior had been born.

Tetiana was born and raised in the house destroyed by occupiers. She gave birth to her children there, a place of peace and love before the war. On February 24, the family was home, unaware of the invasion until tanks and explosions surrounded them. Tetiana’s sister urged them to flee. Except for Oleksandr, the family and their do escaped to Voznesensk, where a kind family sheltered them until the area was de-occupied.

During the attacks, the family lost communication and were separated. On March 3, they learned their home was destroyed. Initially, Tetiana couldn’t grasp the reality. Once the shock wore off, she cried, hiding her tears from her daughters. The children were devastated, losing their beloved rooms after recent renovations. Their only solace was Oleksandr’s survival; he had narrowly escaped the shelling and moved to a church in the city. Once the fighting subsided, the family reunited.

The Yashchenkos lived with strangers in Voznesensk until a modular town was set up in Novoselivka. They’ve been there for two years but lack space and proper living conditions. They hope to return and rebuild their home and lives together. $55,000, that’s the price tag for a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house, but dignity for a father and destiny for a family are priceless. Will you consider giving through Hope and Horizons to help the Yashchenko family? Together we can restor hope and provide a future for this deserving family.

The Kuzhelniy family built their home themselves and had lived there since 1998. Volodymyr bought the land, and over 20 years, they invested all their efforts and resources into constructing their home. Before the war, they couldn’t believe such a conflict would happen. However, on the morning of February 24, explosions shattered their disbelief. The news confirmed that Russia had attacked Ukraine, and a state of emergency was declared. Foreign tanks rolled through their village, and Ukrainian soldiers dug trenches. the family helped the soldiers, initially thinking the conflict would be brief.

During the village attack, the family sheltered in their cellar as shells landed nearby. On March 10, their house was hit in several places but remained standing. Deciding to flee to Chernihiv, they experienced a bomb dropping near their shelter, causing injuries and fatalities. This prompted them to move further to the Kyiv region, seeking safety from the ongoing threat.

After their village was de-occupied, the family returned to find their home reduced to ashes. The pain of this loss was indescribable, and it took them almost a year to clear the debris. During this period, Yaroslav underwent surgery, adding to their difficulties. Currently, they rent a small apartment because they cannot afford anything more.

They often travel to their plot of land, where they have a garden that helps feed them. They long to return to their land and have a home of their own.