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 a larger one. Yaroslav conducts classes online, which is very inconvenient in their cramped living space. 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 again.
Kuzhelniy Family:
• Volodymyr Mykhailovych Kuzhelniy (67), Driver
• Lyudmyla Petrivna Kuzhelna (66), Retired
• Yaroslav Volodymyrovych (31), Polytech Univ Lecturer