In Tsarychanka, a small town 80 km northwest of Dnipro, people affected by the conflict are trying to rebuild their lives. The town has received 1,700 internally displaced people (IDPs) since February 2022. With a population of just over 7,000 before the war, those who chose to stay are dealing with a quieter, longer term crisis.

Olena Sulzuyk

Olena Sulzuyk, 56, is an artist, a journalist and musician, not to mention a foundation of the village community. She takes part in HI’s mental health and psychosocial support sessions in Tsarychanka to help people cope with living through the conflict.

Olena says:  "[It’s a] war on everyone. Therefore, people need psychological relief, positive emotions, psychological support, so as not to go crazy from the war, because life goes on.”

“Now, a bloody war is going on in Ukraine. People suffer every day from anxieties, worries, rocket attacks and destruction… everyone is suffering - both those who are under occupation and those who are in relative peace.”

Today, the theme of the session is ‘Autumn’, allowing participants to explore their emotions associated with the changing of the seasons.

Olena shares a poem about “optimism and love for life” during autumn. One part reads:

“Coupled with insomnia, the nights become more frequent
And for no reason - tearful eyes
No longer a cuckoo - a magpie chirps
And a stubborn soul does not want to believe in autumn.”

Yevhen Loik

Yevhen, 48 has cerebral palsy. He had to flee his hometown with his wife when the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Shortly after the move, Yevhen found out his wife had cancer and they both went to live with his parents Volodymyr and Vira who had flee to Tsarychanka.

Yevhen’s wife sadly died in October 2022.

Yevhen and his parents participate in HI’s mental health sessions. They describe the experience as, “like food for the soul to meet people who are going through the same experiences, fleeing from the war.”

Olha Vetkova and Volodymyr Vetkov

Olha, 32, and her husband Volodymyr, 49 have 7 children. Olha is pregnant with their eight child.

​​​​​​​In 2021, the family bought a house, 9km away from what became a frontline in the war in 2022.  Three weeks after the invasion in February 2022, Volodymyr piled his family into their car, and drove them to an Internally Displaced Person's (IDP) camp near Dnipro. They now live in a one bedroom house in Babaikiv.

“I hope for peace for my country and peace for my children.” 

War has left some scars on their children, especially their  five year old son who screams and becomes hysterical when he hears the sound of any aircraft. As the children are getting older, Volodymyr feels the need for at least one room for the boys, and another for the girls, and particularly for their daughter Olena, who has Cerebral Palsy. She loves drawing and studying.