Under Fire and Against Odds, 98-Year-Old Lidia Stepanivna Finds Refuge and a New Home

Lidia Stepanivna, a 98-year-old resident of the partially occupied village of Ocheretyne in the Donetsk region, recently embarked on a remarkable journey. Facing the constant threat of shelling, she walked under fire approximately ten kilometers, leaving her damaged home and injured relatives behind, to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ukrainian military personnel discovered Lidia and safely transported her to the “White Angel” crew, a specialized team of police officers dedicated to evacuating individuals from frontline settlements.

The Donetsk regional police shared Lidia’s story, highlighting the extraordinary resilience she demonstrated during her escape. “Despite having no food or water, 98-year-old Lidia Stepanivna walked for an entire day,” the police statement detailed. “Exhausted, she fell several times, even briefly losing consciousness. Relying solely on her walking sticks and sheer determination, she persevered through the fighting and miraculously survived.”

Lidia’s home in Ocheretyne was destroyed amidst the ongoing war, leaving her with no place to return to. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “It’s scary there. I woke up, and the shooting was terrible. My daughter-in-law, son, and I ran away. That war wasn’t like this. Then not a single house burned down. I survived that war, and I am surviving this war. I am left with nothing. But I came out on my own feet for my Ukraine.”

Oleh Horokhovskyi, the co-founder Ukraine’s largest online bank, learned of Lidia’s story and decided to act. He announced that the bank had purchased a new house for her, a gesture of support and admiration for her courage and resilience.

In a statement announcing the gift, Horokhovskyi expressed his hope for the future, saying, “Lidia Stepanivna will definitely live in it to see the time when this horror disappears from our land.”