In the first moments after the shrapnel struck her leg, Iryna experienced no pain, only a sensation of intense heat.  She could not put weight on her left leg. The surroundings were filled with smoke and dust.  An enemy shell hit her home in Kostiantynivka in October 2024,  during a time when the town was under heavy Russian shelling.  Along with Iryna, about ten other people were injured that day.

In the hospital, Iryna learned that her wound required serious treatment.  She received medical care in Dnipro and Kropyvnytskyi.  This fragile woman possesses a remarkable will to survive;   she got back on her feet earlier than the doctors had predicted.

During her rehabilitation, Iryna received support from the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.  Her goal is to stand firmly on her feet and move freely.  Every night, Iryna prays for peace in Ukraine  and dreams of returning home as soon as possible.  However, due to the ongoing shelling and the approaching frontline, that goal remains out of reach.