We continue to introduce you to the residents of our "PrykhystOK" in Uzhhorod. Their stories are, in fact, the stories of thousands of Ukrainian IDPs: those who fled their homes because of russian military aggression. Some have set up a temporary home in the west of the country, others have gone abroad, and still others have returned to Ukraine from abroad... Our shelter has been a part of each of these routes.

Hanna Domanska, 66 years old. Her hometown is Zaporizhzhia. She lives in the shelter with her daughter and grandson.

"We came to Uzhhorod in July 2023, first lived in social housing, and then managed to find a place in the shelter of the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya. After the full-scale invasion began, we lived near the front line for over a year. During the war, a grandson was born in the family, now he is one and a half years old. The proximity of shelling and constant anxiety scared the child very much. This is the main reason why we decided to leave our home. We adapted quickly here. Perhaps we were lucky, but we met only good people. The fact that we are now here, in the shelter, is a confirmation of this. The cozy atmosphere helped to get rid of the constant stress, my grandson began to notice the air raid alarms less, and before he was very scared and cried. He even felt that the siren was about to go off. The "PrykhystOK" is our good fortune, primarily because of the people we met here. We really appreciate this care. When you are not at home, the question "how are you?" becomes priceless", shares Hanna Domanska.

Ms. Hanna said that they recently had to return to Zaporizhzhia for a few days on business. And unlike the rather stressful departure in the summer, this time they were counting the days until they returned to Uzhhorod.

Victoriya Myshkina, 45 years old. Her hometown is Slovyansk in Donetsk Oblast.

Victoriya lives in "PrykhystOK" with her 13-year-old daughter Daryna.

"We left home on March 13, 2022, on a train that ran through our station. We arrived in Chernivtsi at night, it was the final one. Then, together with other IDPs, we went to Romania. There we had the opportunity to catch our breath for a few days. Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to go to someone in a safe place. In fact, we didn’t want to go far from the border so that we could quickly return home. But together with my mother and children, we made a difficult decision to board an evacuation bus to Italy. Volunteers took care of us there, provided separate housing for the family... But there were problems with work, and you can’t find it without knowing the language. I tried unsuccessfully to learn Italian. Although my son learned it, he still could not find a job. Later he managed to find a job in Poland. And we decided to return home. Firstly, we could no longer use the housing provided. Secondly, we could not survive on 80 euros a week for the family. To buy tickets to Ukraine, my mother and I got a job cleaning hotels. In a month and a half, we managed to save the necessary amount, and my daughter and I came to Uzhhorod, while my mother returned to Slovyansk. It was very dangerous there, but I couldn’t convince her. I myself, feeling responsible for my child, stayed in a safe city. Here I immediately managed to find a job – I work as a cook in a fast food restaurant, because I have the relevant experience. The girls from the shelter helped me enroll my daughter in school. In general, we were very lucky to be here. It allowed us to gather our strength and thoughts to think about further search for housing, which is very expensive in Uzhhorod. If I move somewhere else in the region, I will lose my job, which is what supports us now", says Victoriya.

The woman’s property was destroyed by enemy shelling, but her relatives made minimal repairs. A friend who already lived in Uzhhorod helped her find a place in our shelter. Vika quickly got used to the city, as it is as small and cozy as her native Slovyansk. In the shelter, the woman continues her delicious craft – she makes pies and treats other residents. She says that this activity calms her down and makes her feel needed and have a hobby. Her daughter is also interested in creativity – she has started beading and wants to learn how to do it.

The Myshkin family remembers the occupation of Slovyansk in 2014, when they were forced to leave their home for the first time. When Ukraine returned, they believed that such a disaster would not happen again. But in 8 years, russia has returned, and again with weapons.

We told the stories of our other residents here, here, and here and here.