From Gray Zone to Safe Haven

Oleksandr Spivakovskyi and Tetiana Ohilko, 65 and 64, were lifelong residents of Kakhovka, Kherson region. He worked as a security guard, she in social services. As they approached retirement, their plans were simple: focus on health and put their affairs in order in their beloved hometown.

Then their city fell into the “gray zone.” The couple categorically rejected Russian authority, but the psychological weight of potential occupation bore heavily on them. When the attacks intensified and the hydroelectric dam was destroyed, they had to flee separately due to safety concerns, making their way to Lviv in search of their pension documents.

Their journey led them to a modular town in Makariv, where they endured six months of difficult conditions. “With our small pensions, we couldn’t afford anything else, ” they recall. Shared facilities with challenging neighbors made daily life a struggle.

When the foundation called, they were in such disbelief they called back multiple times to verify they hadn’t been confused with someone else. On December 19, 2024, the couple moved into apartment 5.4 at Senior Chudo Village, finally finding the peace they sought.

Their wisdom, shaped by displacement, focuses on forgiveness: “We wish all people, not just the young, would let go of grudges. Forgiveness frees the human soul from worry. Life is too short to waste on anger or hatred.”

To Dell Loy Hansen, they offer heartfelt gratitude: “Your actions prove that mercy isn’t just a word, but a deed. Thank you for showing such kindness and openness to displaced persons.”

In Chudo Village, where everything is “cozy, welcoming, and peaceful, ” these native Kakhovkans have found not just shelter, but a place where they can finally live without planning, simply taking each day as it comes.