Serhiy Petrovych is 74 years old. He spent his entire life working to provide for his family, and in retirement, he dreamed of peaceful days in his own home in Izyum. Together with his wife, they cared for their yard, grew flowers, and enjoyed simple daily joys. But the war erased what had been built with their own hands over decades.
After one of the heavy shellings, their house suffered serious damage: the blast shattered the windows and front doors, deformed the frames, and sent shards of glass flying across the rooms.
“My wife and I stood in the middle of the room, unable to believe this was our home,” recalls Serhiy Petrovych. “There were no windows, the cold was coming in, dust was everywhere. It felt like we would never manage to fix it.”
It was difficult for the couple even to start the repairs. Serhiy Petrovych has health issues, and his wife is no longer able to do physical work. They tried temporarily covering the openings with improvised materials, but that only provided short-term relief from the cold and drafts.
When our team visited them as part of the project “The Strengthening Resilience and Protection of Conflict-Affected Individuals, Communities, and Systems in Central and Eastern Ukraine” the couple greeted us with hope—but also anxiety—wondering if their home could ever feel warm and safe again.
After inspection, it became clear that nearly all the windows and frames needed replacement. During the work, Serhiy Petrovych carefully watched every stage.
“I watched how you installed the windows and thought: if only my hands were like they used to be,” he smiles. “But my wife and I are no longer at that age. So we are very grateful that you came to help.”
The installation was completed with the last window, and the house was once again protected from the cold, wind, and bad weather. The couple immediately felt the difference: the rooms became warmer and quieter, the sense of security returned, and they could live in their own home without constant fear each night.
“Now we can live here normally again,” says Serhiy Petrovych. “It’s like we got back a piece of our life that the explosion took away. Thank you for that.”
The Strengthening Resilience and Protection of Conflict-Affected Individuals, Communities, and Systems in Central and Eastern Ukraine project is implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in cooperation with the international humanitarian organization CARE and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.