Strength Nearby: How Olha Found Support After a Mine-Explosion Injury

Photo: NGO ‘‘Girls’' / Denis Kryvopyshyn

Olha’s life, a woman from Sumy, changed drastically in April 2025. She was injured in a missile strike and sustained a mine-explosion trauma. Alongside her long treatment and recovery, she faced another challenge — navigating complex paperwork and finding support, as it was difficult to handle the bureaucratic procedures on her own.

By chance, Olha came across a publication on the website of the Department of Social Protection of the Sumy City Council, which referred to the NGO Girls. The post explained that the organization supports people affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including by providing targeted financial assistance. The very next morning, Olha decided to seek help.

She met with a case manager from NGO Girls, who carefully listened to her story and immediately began providing support. When it turned out that some documents were missing, the specialist quickly contacted the necessary institutions and arranged appointments. In particular, she helped establish cooperation with the Victims and Witnesses of War Crimes Support Unit of the Sumy Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Thanks to this, Olha swiftly obtained the required documents and was registered for the targeted financial assistance program, which she soon received.

However, Olha needed not only material help but also emotional support. Once her physical wounds had healed, she shared her worries and anxious thoughts with the case manager. In response, she was referred to a psychotherapist — an important step in restoring her inner strength.

Olha also had many questions about reparations and did not know where to start. She received a consultation from a lawyer, who carefully explained all available options and steps to take. The advice proved invaluable: Olha gained confidence and made her first moves toward defending her rights.

“I sincerely thank all the staff of NGO Girls for their sensitivity, patience, respect, and professionalism,” Olha notes with gratitude.

Her story is yet another example that even after the hardest trials, it is possible to find support and strength to move forward — when there are people nearby who are ready to help.

This assistance became possible within the "Enhancing the safety, security, and mental health of women and girls, as well as advancing their human rights" project which is implemented by UN Women Ukraine in partnership with NGO Girls.  The project is financially supported by the Governments of Denmark, Sweden, and Latvia, UN Women National Committees.

The views and opinions expressed in the publication are those of the individuals featured and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of UN Women, the supporting organizations, or the donors involved in the project.