Nellya Shevtsova, an 84-year-old former architect-engineer from Bakhmut, moved into apartment 17.4B at Senior Chudo Village on December 18, 2024. Before the war, Nellya was retired and lived with her doctor husband. She tended to a 40-acre vegetable garden near Bakhmut and kept a household, finding joy in communicating with her children and grandchildren.

As the situation in Bakhmut became tense, Nellya’s military son sent a bus to evacuate her due to her limited mobility. The family had advised her to leave the city from the beginning of the war.

Before receiving a placement in Senior Chudo Village, Nellya rented housing in Sofia. Her daughter learned about the application and filled it out for her. Nellya doesn’t remember who called with the joyful news of her acceptance.

Nellya is content with everything in the village, appreciating the warmth, constant water supply, and the lovely people who feel like fellow villagers. She suffers from type II diabetes and hypertension.

Nellya advises the younger generation to cherish their loved ones and invest emotions and love in them, especially during difficult times, as they will provide support when needed.

Regarding Dell Loy Hansen’s mission, Nellya believes such initiatives deserve support from the state and the people. She sincerely thanks Hansen for his interest in Ukrainians and wishes for all his ideas to be realized.

As an elderly displaced person, Nellya highlights the lack of permanent housing as the main issue. She notes that handrails are missing on the back terrace of the village but otherwise finds the accommodations satisfactory.