Anatoly Lozny

Anatoliy Loznyy is 72 years old. He is from the village of Fedorivka, located in Donetsk region.

“What I’ve been through, I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” Mr. Anatoliy says quietly, gazing into the distance.

Shells flew overhead. He would hide in the basement or in a narrow ditch under the grapevines whenever shelling came unexpectedly. A whole year passed like this—constantly in fear and waiting.

His native village was occupied. For the last two years, Anatoliy had been living in the village of Myrne. The ongoing fighting had taken a toll on his health. He suffered a stroke on his birthday. His sixth…

He was brought to the Shelter in critical condition, by an ambulance. Now he feels better, although his legs still hurt, and every step is difficult.

But the most painful thing is not the physical pain. His heart aches for his family. Anatoliy loves fishing. He used to take his children with him often. In the winter, they would skate while their father patiently sat by the hole in the ice. Then they would all clean the catch together and prepare dinner. Those were happy moments—warm family joy, coziness, and safety.

By trade, he is a builder. He spent his whole life constructing buildings and earned a reputation as a skilled craftsman. In his younger years, he also worked at the Mariupol plant “Azovmash.” It was there that he met his wife.

“I remember the first time I saw her,” smiles Mr. Anatoliy. “She was on a crane. She was driving it, a blonde, a beauty…”

But now, he has only one dream—to see the war end. To be able to simply hug his loved ones. His daughter is far away, abroad, but they stay in touch.

“I want to see my granddaughter… I haven’t seen her for four years…” says the man, and a sparkle appears in his eyes.

Now he waits. He waits for the moment when he can once again hear the bright sound of children’s laughter. When he will hold his granddaughter in his arms, just like he once did with his daughter. When he will feel that the war is behind him, and there is still time ahead for happiness.