The consequences of strikes in Kharkov, September 2024. Ukraine – three years of full -scale war: pain, loss, solidarity and hope Peace and safety On February 24, 2024, millions of Ukrainians woke up from the roar of explosions. For some, they sounded nearby, it seemed that the war began literally outside the window. UN employees are experiencing this war together with the rest of the inhabitants of Ukraine, and the opportunity to help others has become a salvation for them in this difficult time. February morning 2022 “This day [February 24, 2022] is not easy to recall,” says Natalya Datchenko, an employee of UNICEF-Ukraine. She talks with the UN news service from the video from Kyiv. Talking about her work over the past three years, she cannot restrain her tears. “I thought it would not be crying, but it doesn’t work out, it’s good that it stocked up with napkins,” Natalya admits. ~ 60 > along with a feeling of anger, according to the UNISEF employee, she felt On the tragic morning, a surge of energy. “I clearly understood that I want to help others, protect people, realized that I had to do something,” she shared. 60 ~ p >The leadership instructed UNICEF employees first of all to take care of himself and his family, ensure safe conditions for children, and only then return to work. Natalia was evacuated with her family in Lviv. “There were 12 people in a cramped compartment, I held someone’s child in my arms, there was no place to plant him. The train rode slowly so as not to fall under fire. When we finally got, we saw how many families with children are sitting at the station in Lviv directly on the stone floor, although it was February and it was very cold, ”recalls Natalya. Lyudmila Kovalchuk, an employee of the Ukrainian branch of the UN-General Station structure lives next to the airport near Kiev-precisely This area came one of the first blows of Russia’s full -scale invasion of Ukraine. “We woke up at about five in the morning from the roar of explosions. It was a shock, it was not believed that this actually was happening, although we heard about the impending invasion of Russia, ”says Lyudmila. Lyudmila Kovalchuk, an employee of the Ukrainian branch of the UN-Bench structure. life continues fatigue has accumulated in recent years, it is recognized, but life and work continue. Women of Ukraine need the support of the UN – psychological, legal, logistics, financial. Many Ukrainians have to educate children alone, look for a new job to feed them, and repeatedly move from place to place to protect them from war. & Amp; nbsp; ~ ~ p > ” About 70 thousand Ukrainian women serve and work in the army, ”said the UN employee,“ and this category of population has completely unique The need for support. ““We adapted to work in the new conditions. When we agree to meet somewhere, we find out if there is a refuge there in case of attack. We do not plan long -term events, as the danger of falling under fire increases. During the pandemic, we learned how to work in a hybrid format, and this is useful to us now, ”says Lyudmila. Natalia Datchenko, employee of UNICEF-Ukraine Anastasia Kalashnik, who also works in the structure of the UN West, a former resident of Zaporozhye. Two years ago, she and her family moved to Kyiv. “Immediately after February 24, 2022, my children stopped going to kindergarten and school, and the husband lost his job – the company in which he worked immediately turned his activities and left the country,” recalls Anastasia. & Amp; nbsp; But she has much more work. Since 2018, Anastasia has been responsible for working with local authorities and the emergency assistance of the structure of the UN-General region in Ukraine, worked a lot with residents of the Zaporizhzhya, Lugansk and Donetsk regions. With the beginning of a full -scale war, many of them were forced to leave their homes. “Looking back, I can say that it was the most difficult to communicate with these women, many of whom I have known for years, to hear what happened to them, how they fled from the occupied territories, what happened to their husbands who went to the war “, – is divided by Anastasia. for these and other residents of Ukraine, in need of Ukraine In the help, the structure of the UN-Woman, together with the local NGOs, opened the so-called “security spaces for women.” Here, women and their families, affected by the war, could get all the necessary support, get acquainted with each other, exchange experience. “I watched as Elena, one of the visitors to the center literally returned to life after the injuries experienced. She began to smile again, and now Elena is one of the activists of the center and helps others, ”said the UN employee. ~ 60 > consequences of the war According to the UN Office for humanitarian issues, as of February 2025, as a result of the war, according to proven data, more than 12,600 civilians died and more than 29,000 were injured. Among the dead and wounded at least 2,400 children. ~ 60 > millions of people live in constant fear, while those who are in the occupied territories are faced with gesture restrictions and They can not always receive humanitarian aid, they say at the UN. “A whole generation of Ukrainians is growing in the conditions of war,” emphasize in the management of humanitarian issues. – Ruthless attacks on the infrastructure exacerbate the crisis. More than 10 percent of the housing stock of Ukraine was damaged or destroyed, as a result of which at least two million families were left without proper housing. More than 3600 schools and universities received damage – hundreds of thousands of children study remotely. “Repeated attacks on the energy system – three winters in a row – leave settlements without electricity, heating and basic services in cold conditions. 12.7 million people need humanitarian assistance. hopes for the future 60 ~ iframe SRC = “https://e.infogram.com/9894abac-8412-4015-9068-D86D1645FF96?SRC=MBED” Width = “600” Height = “400” Scrolling = “No” Title = “Copy Rus: Copy Rus: Ukraine “frameborder =” 0 “> 60 ~ p >On this tragic background there is a place for hope ? “there is,” the UN news service interlocutors are firmly responsible. “Of course, the war and all these events are exhausted,” says Anastasia. “But my children give me the right to hope for a better future.” What is happening to him now is unfair. I am convinced that it should be strong in order to improve their life and the life of other Ukrainian families. ”~ 60 > and also, according to her, the solidarity that the UN shows hope with Ukraine and other organizations. “They did not abandon Ukraine, they remained and continue to support us. They remained not for a month or for two, but for years. And today we are already talking about restoration. These discussions of plans for the restoration of Ukraine, its revival, give confidence that we have a future, ”says Anastasia. ~ 60 > 62 > 62 ~Natalia from Unisef also talks about unity and solidarity. “At first we were united by anger,” she recalls. – We shared our burden. We shared our pain. We were angry together. Now anger is no longer driving force. Now we are united by the desire to restore what was destroyed. We want to restore communities, help families, build, rethink our country so that it is no longer as before. To leave behind the Soviet heritage and build a really new country based on human rights. ”~ 60 >“ And my work gives me hope, ”Natalia continues. – Because I have a unique opportunity to review the old ones and come up with new programs, hear the voices of the most vulnerable, direct resources where they are really needed, work with the state, with civil society, to be a bridge between different sectors to collect the best of those for those , who needs support. ““I think that the work in UNICEF and the ministry of this organization helped me survive – and it is still my survival strategy,” she adds thoughtfully. According to the employee of the UN Children’s Fund, she is grateful to colleagues from other countries who have supported the inhabitants of Ukraine all over the past years. ~ 60 > survival strategy Natalya also sees salvation in culture. “I am looking for inspiration and motivation in something beautiful that is still available in Ukraine-we have museums open, concerts are held, music sounds. And for many, this is also a survival strategy, ”she says. Today, many Ukrainians and Ukrainians have to look for“ survival strategies ”. “Perhaps one of the problems we are now facing in our work is a lack of psychological strength not only to support ourselves, but also to support our colleagues,” Lyudmila Kovalchuk shares. – Recently, we had a case when the brother of our colleague disappeared, and sometimes it is really very difficult to find the right words to support, but we work with people, women and girls who suffered from the war. ”62 > “you have to become stronger … “~ 60 >” But, on the other hand, when you come across one case after another, with one problem after another, you begin to feel stronger and more experienced. There is such a phrase: “What does not kill us, makes us stronger,” she continues and adds with a sad smile: “Perhaps this is true. But I always say that I would like not to have the experience that I have now. However, I had no choice – I already have this experience. ”