Olena has known what war is like since 2014, when Bakhmut was shaken by explosions. As a doctor and teacher at the local medical college, she immediately took the side of help – rescuing, volunteering, and supporting students. The war did not recede: in 2021, her father was killed by a shock wave, and in 2022, the city came under russian fire again.

The college turned into a volunteer hub. Hunger, lack of water, constant shelling – Olena went through it all together with the people of Bakhmut. She says: if it wasn’t for the humanitarian aid from Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, many people would not have survived.

She left the city only when the shelling from enemy Grad missiles started – her neighbour was killed in front of her eyes and she was thrown away by the blast wave. Now she lives in Poltava, volunteers and keeps in touch with the Bakhmut community. And although the pain of loss can never be eased, unity and support are what can heal wounds.