How Lina Dub saves lives in Donetsk region despite shelling, blackouts, and losing her home

Photo: from Lina’s personal archive  

Since 2022, the Donetsk region has been under constant shelling, and Lina Dub continues to work there to this day.

“I met the full-scale invasion at work. But at the same time, I couldn’t believe something like this could happen. I didn’t even want to admit that we would again experience what war is,” she recalls.

Lina is an emergency paramedic with over 30 years of experience, originally from Pokrovsk district in Donetsk region. For years, she worked as an emergency paramedic in one of the villages until it became impossible to stay there.

Evacuation and loss of home  

After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the security situation in Donetsk region continued to deteriorate. In December 2024, Lina was forced to leave her native village.

“Mass shelling began, there was no electricity, and the road was blocked. I needed to get to work in Dobropillia. It was impossible to leave our area, but transport was still running from Dnipropetrovsk region, so we decided to leave,” she says.

Less than a month later, the village suffered devastating destruction: first, the house where her family lived was destroyed, and soon after — her children’s home as well. There was nowhere left to return to.

Since then, Lina has not been able to return back. Active hostilities continue there. 

Working on the edge of risk 

Today, Lina lives in Dnipropetrovsk region but continues working in Donetsk region. Every shift starts with a few hours of travel. Her job is to help people injured by shelling, strokes, and heart attacks, as well as to evacuate patients to other cities.

“My typical working day looks like this: I wake up, get ready. We drive with colleagues for two hours to work. We arrive, take over the shift — check the vehicle, equipment, and bags to make sure everything works. When a call comes in, we head out.”

However, the usual work routine is constantly interrupted by shelling. Calls often take place in the dark, without stable communication, and with a constant risk of repeated strikes.

“Since the beginning of 2025, we have had many calls after shelling. We respond specifically to such calls to provide necessary assistance and transport victims to medical facilities in time. But the risk of repeated strikes complicates the work.”

On 7 March, 2025, during shelling in Dobropillia, Lina and her colleagues came under a second strike. One of the ambulance crews was affected — the vehicle was damaged. Fortunately, the staff were not injured.

As Lina notes, every call after shelling carries a heavy emotional burden. Traumatic amputations, injured civilians, destroyed lives — medical workers absorb all of this, yet continue to do their job.

“What keeps me going is the belief that people still need help, because the situation is very difficult.”

A winter that made everything harder 

The winter of 2026 was complicated not only by shelling but also by prolonged power outages, which affected both work and daily life.

“Often we couldn’t reach patients or find the way, especially in remote villages: due to power outages, communication disappeared completely,” Lina says.

In addition to work, daily household challenges required a lot of effort: heating the house, cooking, maintaining everyday life. She rents a private house heated with coal. Since mid-October 2025, Dnipropetrovsk region experienced long power outages — electricity was often unavailable for 12–16 hours a day, mostly during daytime. This made daily life even more difficult.

At the end of 2025, Lina obtained internally displaced person (IDP) status and financial assistance to cover heating costs, which helped her get through the winter and arrange her living conditions. 

“Woman of Donetsk Region” contest

Award ceremony of the "Woman of Donetsk Region 2025" contest, November 2025. Photo: UN Women/Yan Dobronosov 

Lina’s daily work, dedication to her profession, and support for people in frontline communities did not go unnoticed. In November 2025, she became one of the winners of the “Woman of Donetsk Region 2025” contest in the nomination “Caring Heart.”

This contest recognizes women who contribute to the social and cultural life and development of Donetsk region. It was organized by the Donetsk Regional State Administration and the charitable foundation “Slavic Heart,” with support from UN Women Ukraine and funding from the governments of Sweden and Denmark.

For Lina, participation in the contest was unexpected. Employees of the local council, with whom she had worked for many years, encouraged her to apply. She agreed without high expectations and attended the ceremony as a nominee.

The news of her victory was an emotional moment for Lina, and the first person she called was her sister.

“My relatives and loved ones were very happy. The first person I told was my sister. Her words brought tears to my eyes because she said, ‘our mother would be very proud of you.’”

For Lina, this recognition is less about the award itself and more about the experience and work she carries out every day alongside other women — in hospitals, communities, and next to people who need help.

Today, Lina continues to live and work between two regions, care for her family, and remain in her profession. Her wish is simple — for the war to end and for her loved ones to be not just on the phone, but by her side. 

The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the protagonist and do not necessarily reflect the views of UN Women, partner organizations, or donors supporting the project.