Lebedeva Family
From: Bakhmut, Donetsk region
Family member: Liubov (71)

Finding Refuge From the Battle for Bakhmut

Until May 9, 2023, Liubov Lebedeva remained in Bakhmut, enduring the increasingly dangerous conditions as the battle for the city intensified. At the beginning of combat operations in her area, she was forced to abandon her home and evacuate to Chabany in Kyiv region. Since December 28, 2023, she has been living in Miracle Village in Kolonshchyna.

Her home in Bakhmut was destroyed and remains under occupation, with little hope of return in the foreseeable future.

“I am very satisfied with living in Miracle Village,” Liubov shares. “My life has changed for the better. I thank Hansen and the Miracle Village administration for the accommodation and good conditions. I also thank the doctors, volunteers, and psychologists.”

Finding purpose in her new community, Liubov works with the volunteer group “Cleanliness and Beauty,” helping maintain the village that has given her a new beginning. After experiencing the destruction of Bakhmut, one of the most heavily contested cities in the war, she has found safety, dignity, and community among fellow displaced seniors.