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Ukraine: A ray of hope - supporting a survivor of a rocket attack

After sustaining injuries during a rocket attack in February 2025, Yevhen* began a long road to recovery. Now living with his family in Dnipro, he’s receiving support from the Danish Refugee Council to help manage daily challenges and regain a sense of stability at home.

© DRC Ukraine, Dnipro, May 2025, Olena Vysokolian

Posted on 03 Jul 2025

As we enter the courtyard of a private house in Dnipro, we are warmly greeted by two women: Lidiya and Mariia*, their smiles accompanied by heartfelt words of gratitude. A small red dog bounds out of the gate, joining the welcoming committee. Inside, we see a larger dog with striking blue eyes resting in a cage. “We evacuated them from Pokrovsk,” explains Lidiya. “My son Yevhen has a deep love for stray animals and actively tries to help them. Along with our own pets, he has taken in three more dogs, and now people come to us asking to foster strays.”

Upon entering the house, we find Yevhen lying on a medical bed in a ground-floor room. A pin stabilises his shoulder, while a blanket covers the rest of his body. At his feet, a sphynx cat rests, and another cat lounges beside him.

A life-altering incident

“It happened in February 2025,” Yevhen recalls, reflecting on the day that changed his life. In the Pokrovsk region of Donetsk Oblast, where the sounds of shelling were a daily occurrence, Yevhen, his mother, and grandmother were unable to leave Dnipro. Yevhen's father was missing, and the hope of finding him kept them anchored in their family home.

After one particularly violent round of shelling, the windows of their house were shattered. As Yevhen and his neighbour attempted to repair the damage, two rockets exploded nearby, killing Yevhen’s friend. Yevhen felt losing control of his body. "At that moment, everything went black. I just didn’t understand what was happening," he remembers. Yevhen had many shrapnel wounds, the lower part of his body was most affected. He was rushed to a hospital in Dobropillia and soon found himself on the operating table. After this surgery, Yevhen was transferred to different hospitals in Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, where doctors fought tirelessly for his recovery. "Every day was a struggle," he says.

The need for support

Eventually, when doctors allowed him to return home, Yevhen chose his newly rented house in Dnipro. It was more comfortable, but Yevhen required a special medical bed. "It was excruciating to lie on a normal bed or sofa. After three days of such sleep, I thought I wouldn’t be able to endure it," he recalls, pain evident in his voice.

Help arrived from the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). In partnership with Humanity & Inclusion, the organisation provided Yevhen with assistance funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

"We provided funding for delivery, assembly, and the purchase of a special bed for Yevhen," Maria, a protection assistant at DRC, explains. "This bed makes caring for him easier and supports his rehabilitation."

When discussing this support, smile doesn’t leave Yevhen’s face. "Now I can sleep without pain; this is incredibly important for my recovery," he says.

© DRC Ukraine, Dnipro, May 2025, Olena Vysokolian

© DRC Ukraine, Dnipro, May 2025, Olena Vysokolian

A new beginning

Before the full-scale war began, the city of Pokrovsk where Yevhen had lived had a population of 60,000. By the end of May 2025, fewer than 2,000 residents remained. Law enforcement agencies urged everyone to evacuate the unsafe area, with relocations happening around the clock. Yevhen recounts that just weeks before our conversation, in early May, his home was destroyed.

Yevhen's mother and grandmother are gradually adjusting to their new life in Dnipro. Yevhen spends his time watching films and keeping in touch with friends. He also enjoys the companionship of the pets the family rescued from their hometown. "Every life is important, we can’t leave them behind," he asserts resolutely.

Despite the many challenges they face, the family continues to holding on to hope for a brighter future. "There is a high chance that after a few surgeries my son will be able to get around. We can't give up, especially now that I can finally see a smile on his face," says Lidiya, holding on to the bed rail.

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