Olena Loban from Vuhledar, Donetsk region, witnessed horrific events. Her story is a tale of loss, resilience and hope. 

August 27, 2023 is a tragic date for the Loban family. As a result of the russian shelling, the apartments in a high-rise building in the city burned down. The family’s home was burnt to the ground, and Olena’s father was injured. At the time of the shelling, Olena was not living with her parents. She met with her family after her father was transported to a hospital in the west of the country in serious condition. Later, he was transferred to Dnipro. Three months after the injury, her father barely got back on his feet. He is still undergoing rehabilitation. Olena shares her feelings about how hard it was to lose her home and hometown and feel hopeless. This conversation, which was recorded in one of Dnipro’s humanitarian hubs, opens the door to the life of a person who, despite all the trials, does not lose faith in the best.