Losing a business in Mariupol, miraculously escaping relentless shelling and, seemingly, finding safety in Kyiv, only to later see the work of a lifetime engulfed in flames once again. 

Before the full-scale invasion, Kateryna Kolmykova had it all: a successful family business, roles in the theatre, victories in beauty pageants and ambitious plans for the future. But the full-scale war brutally erased that life. Kateryna and her family were forced to flee into the unknown with only what could fit into their cars.

The story of this actress and entrepreneur from Mariupol is far more than a chronicle of loss. It is a story of renewal and resilience. Having found refuge in the capital, the family started over from scratch. Their first capital amounted to 40 folding beds. Step by step, they rebuilt their business, resumed sales and opened a new shop. 

At the same time, Kateryna found healing on the theatre stage. She performed in the documentary production “The Face of the Colour of War”, in which displaced actors transformed their own pain into a powerful voice for many of Mariupol’s civilian residents.

But on June 15, 2026, Kateryna watched their new shop burn for the second time. Yet her story is one of a conscious decision not to become a victim of circumstances. She does not want her family to be known only as the family that lost nine businesses.