Kateryna Kopysova

The war forced 76-year-old Kateryna Kopysova to leave her native Kherson due to the enemy’s explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station, which flooded her home. For over a year now, the woman has been living in a shelter and is grateful for the comfort and support provided by the Caritas staff.

Kateryna Oleksandrivna’s life has always been full of movement: work, sports, books, and travel. She worked as a saleswoman and later at a shoe factory. However, her true passion has always been swimming. She joined a swimming club in first grade and stayed in the pool until she was 25 years old.

“It was a time when swimming was very popular — almost the entire neighborhood went to training,” the woman smiles.

She fondly remembers trips to competitions in different cities of Ukraine, especially to Odessa. The water was her element, her escape.

Her love for reading has also stayed with her since her youth. In her native home in Kherson, she even had her own small library. Now, after everything she has gone through, books are her salvation.

When the enemy blew up the Kakhovka Dam, Mrs. Kateryna’s life split into “before” and “after.” The water covered her yard, destroying everything. The shock and stress took a toll on her heart, and she ended up in the hospital. When she started to feel a bit better, volunteers evacuated her to Ivano-Frankivsk.

Kateryna Oleksandrivna has been at the shelter since December 2023. Here, she finally found peace. In her free time, she reads, watches TV, and on nice days, she goes outside with her cat and enjoys the fresh air.

“I like it here. They welcomed me like family and gave me the chance to feel at home. That means a lot to me,” says the woman.