Zinaida Luhanska

Zinaida Luhanska is 89 years old. She is from Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. She has been forced to witness war with her own eyes for the second time. She says that she doesn’t remember much, but her life has been difficult.

Ms. Zinaida begins her life story with memories of a sad childhood during World War II and the hunger of the post-war years.

“Things used to be different, not like they are now,” she shares.

There were four of them in the family, and they kept various livestock, from cows to rabbits. However, most of the produce was handed over to the state to help with the post-war recovery.

“Then came the hunger. It was hard. In the shops, they gave only 100 grams of bread per person,” the woman recalls with sadness. “My brother was only four years old, still a little one. So we would run to the cowshed, take those small pieces of bread, and rub them between our palms. Then we would gather the crumbs with our fingers and eat them. That’s all we had.”

The woman worked at the Northern Mining and Processing Plant, with 32 years of experience, and now she receives a pension.

She had two children with her husband: a son and a daughter. However, she has already buried her son. She still keeps in touch with her daughter, though they haven’t had the chance to meet in person since the evacuation—only communicating by phone. She also fondly recalls her granddaughter.

She didn’t want to leave her home, despite the constant shelling. However, she agreed to leave only because she needs care and assistance with daily tasks.

“But I still don’t just sit around,” Zinaida laughs. “Everything I can do, I do, I help. Here, everything is convenient, and there’s always food. I don’t have to heat the stove.”