“For my whole life I’ve been dreaming about having a family and being comfortable and happy when I get older.

It is only now that I understand that my whole life has gone downhill. I am in my sixties and I have no home, or family or even health! I was wounded at war and I’m disabled now”.

It was a normal a regular day at war three years ago when Yevhen celebrated his birthday with his ex-wife at their home in the frontline town of Maryinka. They had saved some food products for this small celebration – they invited a friend and a neighbor for dinner where they served sausage, potatoes and ham.  The party could hear the sounds of shelling but living at war, they were already accustomed to the sounds.

“When the birthday dinner was over, I laid down to watch some TV and Sveta (my ex-wife) was standing by the mirror brushing her hair. I got a little nervous because it took her too long to prepare for bed. I told her, “That’s enough, let’s sleep!” but she didn’t have enough time to come to bed. I heard a terrible noise and felt warm blood in the bottom part of my body. My hip and the whole leg were fragmented with shells”. 

“This was the fourth hit of a shell in our house, and it became fatal. That evening, both of us became disabled – me and my wife. Until this day, 3 years later, my spouse still undergoes treatment in traumatology department of Krasny Liman hospital (in now-occupied territory of Ukraine).

And as far as myself is considered … I’m practically immobilized, I can only walk with the help of walkers, or I can hold on to the neck of my elderly mother who is sick herself. My Mom’s house also suffered from shelling, the roof is damaged“.

My wife and I broke up after these terrible shelling. We couldn’t live together because she needs to live near the hospital and I can’t go there to the occupied territory. The war had ruined our lives, and like many other people, I don’t want to return home. So much pain and loss are associated with that place! ”

CBN-Emmanuel team brought a food bag to Eugeny and his mother to support them in the times of war which is lasting for over six year and which is now aggravated with COVID-19 quarantine.

We talked and Eugeny was able to share a lot of stories of his good life in the past, about his work and family. Thankfully, at the end of our conversation, he started to smile and this smile gives us home that our work is not in vain.

We ask you to support the work of our ministry at http://helpua.org/en/home-en/so that other people in need can be helped and start smiling.

Anna Chaban, Journalist