Life After Loss: The Story of a Family from Pokrovsk
The war took away their home and their hometown. 1,300 kilometers away, in Boryslav in the Lviv region, the family began to rebuild their lives from scratch. The support they received through the “Family to Family” project gave them confidence and strength.
«People told me: there are no opportunities! And I replied – we have to find them!»
To own a goat – Natalia had dreamed of this even before the war: in her hometown of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Region. She reasoned that fresh, nutritious milk for her little ones would be a great help. It took many years to realize this dream, 1,300 kilometers from home – in Boryslav, Lviv Region, where the war had driven her family…
Natalia’s family includes four minor children, and every day of hers has long been filled with care, responsibility, and the struggle for a better future for them. Before the full-scale war began, life was stable and predictable: her husband worked as a lathe operator at a factory, and Natalia worked as a nurse at a psychoneurological boarding school.
However, the family faced its first major challenges even before the war. One of her sons has a disability, and a child with special needs requires more attention and care: individual lessons, support, and constant supervision. Eventually, Natalia quit her job to devote herself entirely to her son.
«I realized I needed to be there, to spend more time with the children. My sons are 14 and 13, and the twins – a daughter and a son – are 10. They’re still little…» - the woman explains.
Natalia not only cared for her son but also fought for his right to an education. She insisted, appealed to local authorities – and finally succeeded in getting specialized groups opened at the kindergarten.
«They told me: there are no resources, no teachers. And I replied: how can that be – my son also has the right to learn and gain knowledge, just like his peers», – Natalia recalls.
That was when she realized for the first time: if you don’t stay silent and take action, change is possible. It was likely this inner sense of strength that became her anchor when life was abruptly divided into “before” and “after.”
“We were driving and had no idea we wouldn’t be coming back…”
Natalia remembers every detail of the morning of February 24, 2022.
«My husband woke me up saying, ‘Natalia, the war has started», she says.
They had to make a decision on the spot. In a single day, they packed the essentials and headed to Nikopol, where Natalia’s parents lived. Like many others, Natalia and her husband believed it wouldn’t last long.
«We were going for a week. We thought we’d be back soon. We never imagined that this might be the last time we’d see our home…» – says Natalia.
At first, it seemed they had found a more or less safe place. But within a few months, the war caught up with the family there as well. Shelling, nighttime explosions, fear.
“The children would wake up in the middle of the night and say, ‘I’m scared, Mom… I’m scared…’ That’s when I realized – they shouldn’t have to see or hear this horror; we have to protect the children,” she shares. “Those moments were turning points.”
And so a new journey began – even further from home…
«Once you’ve experienced war, you start to appreciate silence…»
The next challenge was to find a place where they could not only be safe but also live a full life: study, socialize, and grow. So, after several moves, the family traveled over 1,300 kilometers and ended up in Boryslav – a city they had never even heard of before.
«We were just looking for a peaceful place, looking for a school where our son with special needs could get an education», – says Natalia. It was here, in Boryslav, that they found a rehabilitation and educational facility – one of the few currently operating in Ukraine. This school became a chance for their son. They wanted other children to have the opportunity to learn in a regular setting as well, because Natalia is convinced that online learning cannot replace face-to-face interaction.
At first, the new place felt foreign. Strangers, a different atmosphere, a different way of life. It was especially hard to accept the idea that we might never return home.
«It was very painful for us – we believed for a long time that we would be able to return», – Natalia admits. Over time, the connection to home faded; all that remained were memories and uncertainty – what had become of their home.
«We don’t know if our house is still standing, or if there are just ruins in its place… And there’s no one left to contact in Pokrovsk», – she sighs. Being forced to leave their hometown and losing their home were the hardest moments the family had to endure during the war.
And the happiest ones? Were there any?
«Yes, – Natalia replies. – The happiest day was probably the day we walked into this house that my parents had bought for us. I realized we finally had a roof over our heads. I felt a sense of stability, of solid ground beneath my feet; for the first time, the fear of packing up and heading into the unknown had vanished…» – the woman recalls.
Along with that came a new feeling – gratitude for simple things: silence, nature, peace.
«Once you’ve experienced war, you start to appreciate silence», – Natalia smiles.
«The support from the ‘Family to Family’ project isn’t just a new goat shed…»
Here in Boryslav, Natalia has returned to a long-held dream.
It all started with a little kid. The woman from whom Natalia used to buy cow’s milk for her children got a goat, and the goat gave birth to some kids. She said, «Take one for yourselves!»
I thought, why not give it a try? It just so happened that it was the kids’ birthday, so I said, ‘Kids, I have a present for you!’ Oh, how happy they were with that little goat – it was so tiny and adorable. It was hopping around, and the kids were laughing. At first, I took it to the old barn – which, of course, is pretty run-down. Then I thought, ‘Well, what good is a kid to me? It would be nice to have some milk.’ So I went to Stryi and bought a goat there. That’s how we got milk for the kids…”
Today, the farm already has several animals, and they’re expecting more. Yes, this path hasn’t been easy. New experiences, responsibility for the children, for the farm, financial difficulties. Constant challenges.
«Thank God we were able to get support from the ‘Family to Family’ project, which allowed us to build a new barn», – says Natalia. – We don’t have any extra money for construction. Where would we get 30,000? That’s a huge amount for us. And prices have gone up so much lately… My husband works and has a salary, and we receive aid as IDPs, but almost everything goes toward food. We used to be able to save money somehow – a year ago we were finishing up some renovations on the house, so we managed to save a little. But now – no. It’s hard…»
They built the goat barn on their own: Natalia, her husband, and their eldest son. Working together not only yielded practical results but also gave them the realization that even after suffering losses, it’s possible to create something new, the woman says. Gradually, new plans are emerging. Natalia wants to learn how to make dairy products, develop the farm, fix up the house, and make it cozy for the children.
She also dreams of inviting schoolchildren – so they can interact with the animals and experience simple joy. The people around her have been a vital source of support. Local residents welcomed the family warmly, helped them, shared their belongings, and offered their support.
«The people here are very kind and sincere, – says Natalia. – I want to express special gratitude to the people of Poland for supporting the ‘Family to Family’ project. Their sincerity and desire to support us and help during such a difficult time for Ukraine are worth their weight in gold. Even though they aren’t at war, ordinary Poles understand us, sympathize with us from the heart, don’t judge us, and help us. Farming is very difficult, especially when you don’t even have a home of your own. When I have my own farm, I would gladly invite our Polish friends to come visit us. I hope that by then I’ll have enough experience to share. And if anyone in Poland has more experience raising goats, I’d be happy to learn from them.
Come visit us – we’d be so happy to have you!»
The “Family to Family” project, implemented by the Caritas-Spes Ukraine with financial support from Caritas Polska in the Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia Diocese and the Lviv Archdiocese, provides assistance to Ukrainians who find themselves in difficult circumstances as a result of the war. The project provides cash assistance and grants to help people start their own businesses.
