"I Want the War to End": The Story of Olga, Who Was Forced to Leave Her Home Twice

Photo: UN Women Ukraine/Oleksandr Pitel

Olga Klushanova knows what it means to start over from scratch. 

She lost her home for the first time in 2014 when the war forced her to leave her native Donetsk and relocate to Kostiantynivka. 

In 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine once again tore her away from her everyday life. Together with her family, Olga moved to Dnipro, leaving behind everything that had once seemed permanent. 

She lost a lot but refused to let circumstances break her. 

Read below about how support from UN Women Ukraine and The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) gave her the strength to move forward. 

Displacement and Uncertainty 

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 3.6 million Ukrainians have become internally displaced. Among them are many women and children forced to leave their homes and start anew in uncertainty. Olga Klushanova knows firsthand the difficulties of displacement. 

Her journey began in 2014 when she and her family had to flee occupied Donetsk. They settled in Kostiantynivka, where Olga gave birth to a son and daughter. She worked as a theater instructor at the local cultural center and opened her own art studio, where she taught children creative skills. 

"While we lived in Kostiantynivka, my husband and I moved apartments many times. Each time, I tried to create a new home, a new life. It was incredibly difficult, especially psychologically, as a woman and a mother," Olga recalls. 

When the full-scale invasion began, life changed again. 

Kostiantynivka is a small town, and according to Olga, the sounds of shelling were so loud that it felt like every explosion was right next door. She and her husband had no doubts—they had to flee. 

At the end of March 2022, Olga and her family were forced to leave their home, abandoning their apartment and the life they had built. It was a difficult but necessary decision. 

Making Dnipro Their New Home 

Initially, Olga and her family planned to move to Kremenchuk, where her husband could work at a factory, and the city seemed more stable. But they ultimately decided on Dnipro, where they stayed with Olga’s sister for a while. 

"My sister didn’t have her own home either. Her husband worked, and their youngest child has a disability. We couldn’t stay with them for long—everyone had their own struggles," Olga explains. 

They arrived in Dnipro with two children and two large suitcases. Olga knew this move would not be temporary. They would have to stay for at least a year, maybe longer. 

"When we moved here, things felt a little easier. Dnipro is a big city, and as someone from Donetsk, I’m used to that rhythm. I need to hear noise around me—I fear complete silence. The sound of cars on the street or neighbors talking gives me comfort," she shares. 

Olga and her husband had to find housing and provide for their family. The first months were chaotic—settling into a new apartment, gathering documents for their eldest daughter, who was about to start school. A month after arriving, Olga’s husband found a job. 

Then, last summer, he was mobilized. Olga was left to care for their children alone. 

"It leaves a mark. I try to hold on, but it’s incredibly hard to juggle school and take care of a small child on my own," Olga admits. 

Because she has to be with her children constantly, she cannot work full-time. Still, to stay active, she found an opportunity to organize events for displaced children at a local library. She worked there for six months as a volunteer before securing a part-time position. 

"When my husband was conscripted, my world stopped. I had always relied on him. I made decisions, but he was my support. Now, I have to do everything alone. I’m a natural leader, but when too much is placed on one person, even the strongest will eventually break," she says. 

"It Was Incredible": The Support Olga Received from UN Women Ukraine and WPHF 

Olga has always been someone who connects easily with others. She was not afraid to ask questions, explore opportunities, and seek ways to improve her family’s life. 

The first year after their move was extremely difficult. Money was tight, work was scarce, and the children needed everything—from clothing to food. Fortunately, humanitarian organizations in Dnipro provided essential support, offering food, clothes, and household items. 

Olga first learned about UN Women Ukraine and the possibility of receiving aid through WPHF from an acquaintance. 

"Last year, I heard about an opportunity to apply for help through the ‘Pomogaem’ charity foundation. I filled out the application and waited," she recalls. 

Months later, she received a call from the foundation, which partners with UN Women Ukraine and WPHF. They had good news—her application had been approved. 

Receiving aid felt like a true gift. A bread maker, a slow cooker, and a warm blanket were not just household items—they made daily life easier. 

"We are now living in our third apartment since arriving in Dnipro. It’s a good place, but the stove is old—one burner doesn’t work, and the oven is broken. But now I can cook with the slow cooker, and I bake muffins for my children in the bread maker," Olga says. 

Beyond household essentials, the support from UN Women Ukraine and WPHF allowed Olga and her children to go on several excursions. 

"We visited a snail farm, a horse ranch—it was incredible. It wasn’t just a change of scenery; it was true healing. I sat in the bus, looked out the window, and felt the tension leave my body, even if just for a day," she shares. 

Olga’s wishes are simple: for her husband to return home, for spring to bring warmth, and for the war to end. 

"I want to see the sea. Not to relive the past, when our family used to travel together. No—I just want to show my children what the sea looks like. They have never seen it," she emphasizes. 

Despite everything, Olga remains hopeful. She reminds herself and other women that even in the hardest circumstances, it is possible to find a way forward. 

"We, as women, have incredible inner strength. Maybe now is the time for every woman to see herself differently—not as a victim of circumstances, but as someone who has the power to move forward," she says confidently. 

–––––––––––– 

The project is produced by the CF “Pomogaem”, funded by The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) with technical support of UN Women Ukraine. The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) mobilizes critical support for local and grassroots civil society organizations working on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism supporting quality interventions designed to enhance the capacity of women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities. 

This publication is produced with funding from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), however, the views expressed and content included does not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.