The Bondar Family: A Journey of Survival and Community
Names: Oleksandr (72) and Tetiana Bondar (73)
Hometown: Yakovlivka Village, Bakhmut District, Donetsk Region, Ukraine

Yakovlivka was more than just a village to Oleksandr and Tetiana Bondar — it was home, a picturesque landscape that had witnessed their life together. Oleksandr had spent years working as a driver in the local agro-firm, while Tetiana managed their household, finding purpose in the rhythms of rural life. Their world was simple, predictable, peaceful — until war shattered everything they knew.

May 2022 marked a turning point. Their beloved home was destroyed, reduced to rubble by the conflict that was tearing through eastern Ukraine. The destruction was not just physical — it was the unraveling of their entire way of life. Forced to flee, they found temporary refuge in Kharkiv with distant relatives, hoping to find safety.

But safety was a fleeting concept in those days. Even in Kharkiv, the war followed them. Another shell, another damaged house — their world continued to crumble around them. Two years of wandering, of uncertainty, of loss — each day a test of their resilience and hope.

Then came what they would later call a “happy coincidence” — the Miracle Village.

At 72 and 73, Oleksandr and Tetiana could have been overwhelmed by their circumstances. Instead, they found a new purpose. The village offered them more than just a home — it provided moral, medical, psychological, and material support. Their displacement had stripped away everything, but here, they began to rebuild.

Rather than becoming passive recipients of aid, they became active members of their new community. Oleksandr found purpose as a volunteer in the security group, while Tetiana joined the education and events volunteer team. Their years of experience, their resilience, became their greatest strength.

The Miracle Village was more than just a housing project. It was a lifeline, a community that understood their pain and offered them dignity. After two years of uncertainty, of moving from place to place, they had found something precious — a sense of belonging.

Their story is a testament to the unbreakable spirit of Ukraine’s displaced people. Despite losing their home, their familiar life, they found hope. They found a way to contribute, to live, to thrive.

A narrative of resilience, community, and the power of hope in the face of adversity.