Zoya Starenchenko

Zoya Starenchenko is an incredibly positive and sincere woman. She spent her whole life in the city of Novohrodivka, Donetsk Oblast. Since 2014, she has heard and seen the consequences of military actions. But she truly felt the horrors of war with the start of the full-scale invasion. Now, her hometown is constantly under shelling, with people dying every day and residential buildings being destroyed.

Ms. Zoya came to the shelter together with her brother, Mykola Honcharov, who is 74 years old. Fleeing from the war and constant danger, these two lonely people found peace, support, and care in the shelter in the village of Voinyliv. Zoya Starenchenko is immensely grateful for the shelter, for having a warm bed and a hot meal. However, when she thinks about her home, tears inevitably fill her eyes, as the longing for home becomes unbearable, especially at this time when the garden is being prepared for spring.

“I grew up on the land. Together with my husband, who has been gone for 10 years now, we built our house. So, when I see that everything is starting to get ready for spring, I cry. Because the garden, the orchard, and the vineyards that are left there — they are my life, and at this time, I would already be preparing the land for planting,” shares Ms. Zoya.

Despite the fact that there is no home to return to, Ms. Zoya believes in a happy future and in our victory. And she finds strength in the people who are by her side.