Olena Shvydka
Olena Shvydka, Ivanivka village head
Іthe Vaniv community near Chernihiv was occupied by Russian troops on began march 2022. The settlement was not only under occupation, but also under constant shelling.
The head of the community remained with her fellow villagers. "I approached the Russian military several times without introducing myself. They asked where our government is? I didn't name myself because it's not known what they could have done. She only wanted to know whether it was possible for women with children to leave the village. The military did not let people out", Olena recalls.
The whole world later learned about the real hell experienced by local residents during the occupation. The history of the village of Yagidne, where the occupiers kept more than 300 people in the basement of the village school, became one of the terrible examples of the Russian occupation of Chernihiv Oblast. More than 2,000 houses, schools, and cultural centers were destroyed or damaged in the Ivanovo community.
During the invasion, Elena was hidden by the villagers, because everyone understood that if she fell into the hands of the enemy, she would not be released. Elena Shvydka's family suffered losses – her grandmother died, and her uncle was shot by the occupiers.
After the liberation, the Ivanovo community began its path of restoration. The biggest challenge – is rebuilding people's private property, because many families stayed outdoors. With the help of the chairman, local activists, authorities and businesses were united, which helped move forward. Despite all the obstacles, Olena does not stop. She believes in her community. And people believe their leader. And today, the Ivanovo community continues to cooperate with international foundations and organizations. The work continues, and this process is managed by an indomitable woman.
Iryna Dubyk
Iryna Dubyk - head of the department of culture, family, youth and sports of the Kiptiv village council, deputy head of the NGO "Kiptiv Women's Union"
In the first month of the full-scale invasion, the Kiptiv community found itself on the demarcation line. The evacuation transit road passed through it. In addition to the military, many internally displaced persons appeared in the community.
Iryna Dubyk, together with partner women's NGOs, organized a humanitarian corridor and provided people with baby food, medicine and everything they needed.
When the community was cut off from Chernihiv, Kyiv and Sumy, the old mill was restored in the village of Vovchok. There they began to grind grain and bake yeast-free bread. Each of the women had her own responsibility. Iryna's task was to establish logistics. Thanks to her work, bread was delivered, as well as other products, assistance at the request of the elders of the surrounding villages. Together with the headman of. Progress Iryna Prydako set up a kitchen for the military, met IDPs, including victims from Yagidny, formed humanitarian aid.
And the women of the "Lyubystok" folk group, where Iryna sings, sewed the necessary things for the military. When the fighting subsided, they set off with creative performances. "Because culture, creativity — is also bread, but for the soul!" - believes Iryna Dubyk.
Іtoday, she is convinced that the bread baked by the women of the Kiptiv community — is a symbol of stability and unity. "We, like grains in an ear of corn, held on to each other, and together we were able to survive in that hellish time", the public activist emphasizes.Natalia Kalinichenko
Nataliya Kalinichenko, Chernihiv entrepreneur, owner of the Veranda restaurant
However, the full-scale invasion of Russia, active hostilities around the city stopped the work of "Veranda", and Natalia left for Austria. She lived there for 5 months with a good job, and finally I realized that I am not a potential emigrant.
"I believe that we are a socially responsible business. And I decided to come back to be involved in life in the city, to support various meetings and initiatives", – emphasizes the restaurant owner. They reopened one facility in June, the other – in November 2022.
Moreover, they have a children's camp under their care, which provides high-quality and healthy food. They also actively participate in all-Ukrainian meetings, initiate their own. Like most Ukrainians, they have relatives and close friends whom, unfortunately, they lost forever. There are friends who have gone through captivity.
"I will not be wrong if I say that each of us has a feeling that we are not doing enough", says Nataliya Kalinichenko. Therefore, involvement in various public campaigns helps cafe and restaurant teams to be useful and feel that they are also useful.
" From each hot dish, our institution, like other Chernihiv colleagues, donates a certain percentage to the all-Ukrainian fundraising for our defenders. It also allows restaurant guests to feel that their actions are important, that they are doing a good deed. And, I think, this is very important for everyone now", she emphasizes.
Kateryna Molko
Kateryna Molko, owner of frameless furniture production "KatyPuf modern furniture workshop"
Before the beginning of the great war, Kateryna Molko's family business in Chernihiv became quite large-scale and powerful. Together with her husband, a large production was opened, at the beginning of February 2022, a new showroom was arranged and opened…
On the eve of the – invasion on February 23, Kateryna's daughter was only 9 months old. Then the woman was a happy mother, wife and entrepreneur... The girl's little anniversary was celebrated with relatives and friends. And in the morning a great war began. They collected basic necessities and went nowhere... Kateryna and the baby ended up in Germany. The man stayed at home.
In production at that time, the direction of work was changed and white winter protective suits for the army began to be sewn. And later, in Germany, Chernihiv received news that there is no more production. The warehouse with materials burned down. The showroom was damaged. "I didn't even cry because I understood that the main thing was completely different. My relatives are alive!" - recalls Kateryna Molko.
Then she realized that she would not be able to stay abroad. After all, relatives were waiting at home and an insatiable desire to return to the business of their lives again.
But Kateryna received the greatest support for her business from clients. "They, when they heard about our trouble, started calling, asking, and started placing orders specifically to support us. I am very grateful to everyone!", says the entrepreneur.
Everything that was built before that for years started from scratch again. Kateryna and her child just had to return to the patterns by candlelight, and then her husband took them to tailoring... This was followed by grant support and the purchase of new equipment. The enterprise "KatyPuf Modern Furniture Workshop" is being revived. This year he turns 9 years old.
Larisa Shovkova
Larisa Shovkova, Tupychiv village head
Larisa Shovkova has been working as the head of the Tupychiv Village Council since 2006. Even before the war, the program "Decentralization brings better results and efficiency" was launched in the community. According to the decision of the residents of the community, they began to work on the opening of a sewing workshop: they decided on the equipment and donors. The first part of the funds was received even before the war. Another one already in the summer of 2022, after Tupychiv met with the occupiers. Given its proximity to the Russian border, the community was under occupation in the early days.
"The Russians came to us already on February 24, although the Russian troops were not based in us —, we were a transit zone. I was there all the time, I didn't go anywhere. As best she could, she solved the issue of community life, although it was not easy. In general, the local military, fortunately, did not touch them, but I had a search at home", says Larisa Shovkova about her experiences.
The invaders were looking for weapons and walkie-talkies. And the main task of the head of the community at that time was to make every effort so that after talking with the occupiers, everyone would stay alive. And the soul ached for the new equipment that the community so dreamed of.
On April 1, the last invaders left the Tupychiv land. Sewing equipment for the new workshop, which was hidden from Russian soldiers with great efforts, survived. And in November 2022, a sewing shop started operating in the community.
Now the Tupychiv community has a lot of ideas and energy, but funds for implementation and partners who can help are needed. People dream of a large gym and a sports field with an artificial surface in the village of Vykhvostiv. But the biggest dream is common to all – so that the war ends and we win.
Tatiana Karma
Tetyana Korma, Chernihiv volunteer and public figure
Tetyana Korma from Chernihiv did not believe in the possibility of a full-scale invasion of Russia. She felt confused in the first hours of the great war, as did a large part of Ukrainian society. But then these feelings changed to active actions.
On February 24, a woman was supposed to pick up a group of children from the camp. The next day, it was already clear that it was dangerous to return to Chernihiv Oblast: fighting was going on somewhere, some communities were under occupation. Therefore, Tatyana found shelter for herself and her children in the west of the country, where they stayed for 5 months, through social networks. "In Drohobych, I had electricity and the Internet, unlike my compatriots in Chernihiv. And I started organizing help for those who needed it, she recalls.
Tatyana, having considerable experience in management activities, strives to use any resources effectively – from finding the necessary help to directing exactly where they are most needed. With the assistance of Tetyana Korma, humanitarian aid from international charitable organizations was sent to medical institutions of the city and region, especially border ones.
"I always try to be useful and give part of my time to social projects. Now I have an important mission as an assistant to St. Nicholas", Tetiana jokes. She collected letters from children from border schools of Chernihiv region and handed them over to a charitable organization in Latvia (Your friends) to fulfill the wishes of Ukrainian children. "It's so cool that our kids still have dreams! For them, this is important psychological support and, of course, gifts", she notes. Organized gift collection points in Latvia will find their addressees in Chernihiv Oblast.
On Tatyana's initiative, several charity projects were implemented in the region. It cooperates with organizations that support Chernihiv Oblast in every possible way. And it is thanks to such people that we continue to hold the rear.
Tatyana Didenko
Tetyana Didenko, head of the Veterinary Sterilization Center "Step to Animals" in Chernihiv
During the shelling of the regional center of Chernihiv Oblast in February-March 2022, Tetyana Didenko saved more than 200 animals. The woman heard about the war at night, while on duty in the center. And the first thing she did, she came home to pick up 10 pets that lived there.
"Actually, I couldn't do otherwise, I couldn't leave the animals unattended – either from their pets or from the center", says Chernihiv. She considers it good luck that the day before there was a supply of feed to the center and the animals had food. Tatyana remained at work throughout the siege of Chernihiv.
Unfortunately, it was not without losses. The shelling destroyed the pet volunteer's own home, and the four arrivals were in the center. As a result, 30 animals died of heart attacks, frightened people, escaped from broken enclosures and did not return. During the siege, Tatyana treated, fed animals, extinguished fires, kept property from looters and did not give up for a minute.
She does not leave her favorite business even today. Unfortunately, the number of homeless animals in the center has now increased significantly. Just imagine – 300 dogs and 220 cats. And they are all under her supervision. Tatyana is helped by the center's employees, volunteers and caring people. Thanks to the conscientious work of this strong and brave woman, the Chernihiv center is one of the best in Ukraine.
Ukraine is not just people, it is also spiritual values, support for each other, it is also taking care of animals. No civilized society can exist without animals. Dogs know how to forgive, you can learn devotion and love for people from them, this is the philosophy of Tetyana Didenko. And it is difficult to argue with this.
Victoria Khomych
Tetyana Didenko, head of the Veterinary Sterilization Center "Step to Animals" in Chernihiv
Victoria Khomych completely changed her life. The war found her in despair and horror, because a peaceful life in picturesque Berdyansk on the seashore turned into a struggle for survival. A month and a half after the start of the Great War, Victoria found the strength and opportunity to leave her native home, her own business and her usual way of life.
After five days of extremely difficult trials, her family reached Chernihiv, which became their new home.
"Berdyansk — is a city that will forever remain in my heart. My childhood was spent there, my first dreams and plans were there. But life has changed — had to start from scratch", – shares Victoria's experience.
At first it was very difficult. New city, new people, new circumstances... But over time Victoria realized that every step forward — is not a loss, but an opportunity.
Once in Chernihiv, Victoria decided to learn a new profession. Before that, she and her husband had their own quail breeding business. And now the woman has become a master of nail aesthetics. She has already received several diplomas, developed a client base and opened her own salon.
Victoria fell in love with her new business, from which she draws inspiration and enjoys. She opened a FOP. Thanks to her efficiency and perseverance, she received a grant and with these funds purchased modern equipment for the salon and improved the quality of her services.
"Today I can proudly say", our heroine notes, "my life has changed, and I am grateful every day for having the strength to start my business first". The war changed my life, but the main thing is that I and my family are safe.
Natalia Kokhan
Natalia Kokhan, Chernihiv entrepreneur and public activist
All of Natalia's hopes were dashed on the night of February 24. Despite the pain and despair, she and her neighbors arranged the basement of the house and more than 30 people gathered there. Everyone helped each other as best they could. Natalia supported elderly neighbors, families with children. Although they decided to stay at home, one day neighboring children and elderly people were taken to Kyiv. In the capital, they learned that the bridge over the Desna was blown up. So Natalia and her husband were forced to end up in Kyiv. There they immediately joined volunteer activities, actively through their friends and acquaintances collected and received humanitarian aid from all over Ukraine, organized its delivery to Kulikivka, and from there to Chernihiv.
"I made every effort to help my hometown, because the situation in Kyiv was a little easier. Despite the shelling, there was light, shops were working and I had the opportunity to somehow support my compatriots", says Nataliya. She is very grateful to all volunteer friends who were involved in joint activities.
On April 7, Natalia Kokhan returned home. And for three days, the chain of shoe stores "Beloved Couple", owned by the family, resumed work. Despite all the difficulties and challenges of the war, she is not going to leave her business.
All this time, Natalia is actively engaged in public activities. She is the deputy head of the Chernihiv public organization "Union of Women of Chernihiv Oblast". They help the residents of the border a lot with food, food, clothes, and hygiene products. They also cooperate with charitable foundations and direct a significant part of the aid to the Novgorod-Siversky district, which is suffering from enemy shelling.
Olga Kuntysh
Olga Kuntysh, head of the NGO "Effective Development Agency", program manager of the international humanitarian organization ZOA (Chernihiv/Suma), coordinator of the Cluster on Food Security and Livelihood in the Chernihiv Region.
"Mom, war!" Olga Kuntysh, a 14-year-old daughter, heard on the phone. In the first weeks of the war, she did what she could: she helped cook food, during air raids she wrote grant applications for international support, there was even experience in making Molotov cocktails... By the way, later, with the received grant funds, the Ponornytsk community purchased a powerful generator for 7,500 euros, and some of the internally displaced persons living in this territory were helped with household items and measures were taken to integrate them into the community.
It was only possible to leave Chernihiv under constant fire on the third attempt. In her native Ponornytskyi community, Olga organized a powerful volunteer center, ensuring the delivery of humanitarian goods. All participants in the process, without exaggeration, risked their own lives, but continued their activities. Together with her husband, Olga personally went to meet and accompany cargo.
In Ponornytsia and the villages, everyone who needed help received help, especially IDPs, who at that time numbered more than 1,000 people in the community. After all, then they were actually cut off from food and medicine, and the exit-entry routes were dangerous. "In the volunteer center, several other local girls worked with me, to whom I am very grateful for their help. A huge amount of work was carried out, physically and mentally difficult", Olga Kuntysh notes. Later, on the initiative of an indomitable activist, several programs to support IDPs were launched in the Ponornytskyi community.
Currently, Olga Kuntysh works in a large international organization that helps vulnerable categories of the population restore housing damaged as a result of hostilities in Chernihiv Oblast. At the same time, together with a colleague, he is implementing a project on psychological and humanitarian support for women with children who are IDPs or victims of the military conflict in five communities of the Chernihiv region.
Marina Novyk
Maryna Novyk - a hairdresser, forced migrant, left her home in Semenivka due to constant danger
On February 24, 2022, Marina met at her home, in border Semenivka. Conditional occupation of the city, columns of enemy equipment, embarrassment, fear, hopelessness and despair…
News about the death of compatriots who were in positions, then the dead residents of the city during the shelling of Semenivka, from which Russia is only 10 km away. They held on and hoped that it was not for long, tried to continue living as usual. But it became impossible to live under constant shelling. And even in such conditions, Marina worked in a hairdresser's shop, she cut the military at any time of the day. However, the security situation was constantly deteriorating. She dared to leave her home and her own business after the KABs completely destroyed her workplace. "Fortunately, I was not at work at that moment, because the explosion completely destroyed the room where I worked", Marina says with pain.
Їher compatriot and colleague Yevgenia Golub already worked in Chernihiv after losing her business. It was she who offered our heroine to move to the regional center, provided a workplace where she was able to return to her favorite business. Now Maryna Novyk lives in Chernihiv with her mother and son. Marina is grateful to fate, which remained alive and unharmed.
Yevgenia Golub's salon also supports other Semeniv immigrants, forming its own small community in the regional center. Brave actions and support once again prove that our women can work in any conditions, can provide support, can be strong and resilient for the future.
Maryna Kuzmenko
Maryna Kuzmenko is a co-owner of the Azovstal service station in Ripki. Before that, she was a serviceman of the 105th border detachment named after Prince Volodymyr the Great.
Maryna Kuzmenko and her husband met the first days of the great war as border guards in Mariupol. Both are from Ripok, so they first served in Chernihiv Oblast. At the beginning of 2021, they were transferred to the 1st border detachment stationed in Mariupol.
On February 24, 2022, the couple was in their unit. Around three in the morning, the enemy began shelling the city. Marina's husband went on a mission and... disappeared. The border guard remained in service, provided medical assistance to wounded comrades. Later she learned that her husband was seriously injured and was in a hospital on the other side of the city. Marina went to see him, but they were very late due to shelling, and the wounded were already evacuated to Azovstal. Cut off from her husband and brothers, without money or documents, she decided to leave the city together with the civilians. Already in Zaporizhzhia, she returned to service and began the struggle for her husband's return... After all, in May, the Ukrainian military, who were at Azovstal, surrendered to the Russian captives by order of the top leadership of the state.
He lost more than 40 kilograms, but is alive, six months later Ivan returned home. Marina practically did not recognize him. Then there was difficult rehabilitation. And then they had a daughter, Valeria, who defined new priorities. Ivan returned to the service, and Marina took parental leave, later she also plans to join her brothers.
In addition, she and her husband decided to realize Ivan's childhood dream of – to open a car workshop, receiving a state grant for combatants.
Today, service station "Azovstal" – is a well-known place in Ripky. Marina and Ivan dream that this will be a matter to which their three children will join in the future. Currently, two employees work at the Kuzmenki service station, together with them in their free time — Marina and her husband. A significant part of customers – military. Brothers often turn, because they know that they are always ready to help at the "Azovstal" service station.
Daria Starykova
Daria Starykova from Chernihivka is the manager of the "Baluvana Galya" chain of dumplings, the "Charlotka" and "Sofra" cafes, as well as a co-partner of the "Kulinaria Svitanok" store
"When the full-scale invasion began, I felt such a fear that binds movements and thoughts, — for children, parents, people nearby, for everything we have been building for years", she recalls. That terrible morning on February 24, the woman went to work. Everyone asked – what to do? There was no answer... The staff were disbanded and they left the city for their parents. When they reached their house, they came under the first shelling. Therefore, they immediately returned to Chernihiv, and their parents fell into Russian occupation in a few days.
In Chernihiv, together with other people, they were in the semi-basement of their restaurant. Together with the employees, having collected stocks of products from all establishments, they very quickly understood: they would not be able to sit idle.
This is how their volunteering began. At first they prepared for boys at checkpoints, then – for TRO, military personnel, helped Chernihiv residents who needed food. Products were delivered to the school in Podusivka, which the Russians later completely destroyed. "Through acquaintances, friends, colleagues, we organized a real "support kitchen". Prepared for everyone who applied. It was our form of struggle and a way to hold on", says Darʼya Starikova.
Later, she and her children had to go to Ireland for six months. Even at a distance, thanks to her colleagues, Darʼya was able to resume the work of her institutions as soon as Chernihiv Oblast was liberated. The woman could not stay abroad because she wanted to return to her hometown and her team. In 2023, the war brought new challenges and difficulties. The Sofra restaurant was seriously damaged by an attack on August 19, when people died on the square. "Charlotka" and "Varenychna" were damaged twice, but recovered and started working again. Life goes on – and last year Darʼya gave birth to a son.
The main task that the indomitable heroine sets before herself today is to save institutions, teams and jobs. And of course, he does not abandon his faith in Victory.