We encountered Olena in Izium during our mission to repair homes damaged by the shelling and subsequent occupation of the city, an initiative under the CARE Ukraine Winterisation and Resilience Program project. Olena resides in one of the apartment blocks where we have recently conducted repairs.
Adjacent to where we stand conversing with Olena, a mural of John Lennon graces the square named after him, though now it bears the scars of damage, mirroring the surrounding destruction. This mural, created in 2017 during the Road to the East festival, is a lingering reminder of Lennon’s humanitarian ideals, inscribed with the scratched yet resilient words: “Lennon’s phrase ‘Give Peace a Chance’ echoes the principles of humanity that John left for every one of us.”
The surroundings bear the marks of war, with building façades marred by shrapnel, closed shops showing faded signage, and boarded-up windows. Yet amidst this, blossoms of hope sprout as locals tenderly nurture flower beds situated near the battered buildings.
The shelling of the city started in early March 2022. By April 2022, Izium fell entirely under the control of the Russian forces. During the occupation, 10,000 individuals, including Olena, remained in the city.
She recounts the harrowing days, stating, “Planes soared, bombs fell, and our house trembled. It was dark in the basement, there was no power, we ran out of candles, and had no way to charge the flashlights. We cooked on the porch over a fire for over six months. We didn’t go further than our building entrance at all. The only time we could go out was to collect firewood to cook. Water was not always available, so we had to go to the well too. These were the only trips we made.”
The six months of terror ended in September 2022, when Izium was liberated. Water, power, and gas supply in the city were restored already in October 2022. Nevertheless, the heating challenge looms large.
“There was no heat in my house in winter. It was very cold, we had to turn on two heaters. The heating company came and checked. They said that until the windows were replaced, we would not have heating either,” she narrates. “Izium is gradually being restored, and windows are being replaced. Some people do it on their own, others require assistance. We also built a park and planted flowers. We really want our town to recover. We want to return to the life we had before.
We have already completed repairs at Olena’s house as part of the CARE Ukraine Winterisation and Resilience Program project and continue to restore Izyum.
The project CARE Ukraine Winterisation and Resilience Program is being implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with the support of the humanitarian organization CARE.Ukraine.