In the words of Svitlana Shevchenko: “What matters most to me is not losing my positivity and kindness despite the war”

Photo: from the personal archive of Svitlana Shevchenko

For Svitlana Shevchenko from Zaporizhzhia, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine became a test in which her physical endurance and psychological resilience are tested daily. However, participation in the mental recovery program “ReStart of Consciousness 2025”, implemented by the NGO “Impact Force” with the technical support of UN Women Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), became a point of support for her during these difficult times. 

“I feel like I’m an ordinary Ukrainian woman. Before the full-scale invasion, I held a managerial position at an enterprise, but since February 2022, I’ve been unemployed. Since then, I’ve been constantly engaged in self-education and personal development to help make our country better.” 

Svitlana calls herself an “anti-crisis manager” — that’s how her husband and daughter see her. But behind her outward calm are years of anxiety, loss, and constant tension. 

“Such assessment is both flattering and almost hysterical, because in reality only God knows how difficult it is for me.” 

Forced Emigration 

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, woman fled to Poland with her daughter. A year and a half of forced emigration did not bring salvation for the woman, but rather new trauma. 

“We lived there for a year and a half, but it wasn’t life — it was pure psychological trauma. Returning home became one of the happiest moments of my life.” 

Despite everything, these challenges made Svitlana stronger: emigration to Poland with no money or support, the struggle for the life of her daughter and herself, volunteering and hard physical work, learning new skills, and ultimately — returning home. 

“In the first weeks of the war, my daughter and I fled to Poland. With absolutely no money. The evacuation itself was a sheer nightmare, but even after crossing the border, I did not feel any relief. We had nowhere to live, acquaintances refused to shelter us even for a few days, and we ended up in a refugee center — without prospects, without support, without emotional strength.” 

Svitlana was constantly learning Polish, looking for a job and housing, and could barely eat. As a result of a severe eating disorder, her weight dropped to 38 kilograms. Despite her exhaustion, she volunteered, wrote texts and scripts, found donors to support Ukrainians in frontline areas, and did heavy physical work. Eventually, she found a good job, but she could not live far from her hometown, so she returned to Zaporizhzhia with her daughter. 

Returning to native Zaporizhzhia 

By 2024, they returned to their hometown of Zaporizhzhia, a city that experiences the consequences of constant shelling every day. 

“My daughter and I decided to stay home — even though every night you can hear explosions in the sky. This is our home, our memories, our life.” 

After a powerful shelling, Svitlana decided to learn how to drive so that in a critical moment she could evacuate her daughter.

“For several months, I forced myself to overcome this fear, despite panic attacks. And eventually, I learned to cope with it. Yes, during that time I lost a great deal of my health and was even admitted to intensive care due to severe nervous exhaustion. But now I travel again — I have already made several trips to Kyiv on my own. Little by little, I am restoring my health. And I consider this my personal victory.” 

The war took from Svitlana not only her home and hometown but also precious memories and loved ones. 

“I lost my house, my childhood city, and most painfully — all family photos. I have nothing to show my future grandchildren. During the occupation, my uncle died — we couldn’t give him the medicines he took every day for his heart. I still feel horrified that he died alone, fully aware of his loneliness and knowing there was nowhere to expect help from.”

Alongside the pain and losses, the war became a catalyst for the woman’s rapid personal growth and the formation of a new life outlook.

“At the same time, I have never developed as quickly as I did from the very first days of the war. I began intensively studying foreign languages, obtained a second degree, and took up sports. I told myself that by the end of the war I must become the best version of myself as a citizen of Ukraine. Now I have changed that wording — I am no longer waiting for the war to end.” 

Her attitude toward herself has also changed.

“I have always been anxious and demanding of myself. During the war, these tendencies intensified greatly. I want to return to reasonable expectations of myself, learn to forgive my mistakes, and not worry in advance about things that might happen.” 

Psychological support that restored her confidence  

Despite fear and the physical consequences of prolonged stress, Svitlana discovered her true strength: 

“I’m terribly afraid. To the point of physical ailments. But I still act and do what I must, despite the fear. And that, perhaps, is real strength.”

Her life has been full of turning points: the birth of her children, the loss of loved ones, and the war, which became the greatest trial.

“Actually, there are several: the birth of my first child, the death of my son, the death of my mother-in-law, who was the closest person to me in the world, and the war.” 

Previous attempts at psychological support were ineffective. 

“Psychologists I contacted before refused to work with me due to the complexity of my condition and sent me to psychiatrists for medication.” 

It was during this period that Svitlana learned about the “ReStart of Consciousness 2025” program, implemented by NGO “Impact Force” with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). 

“I saw an ad for the program on Instagram, filled out the application. I wasn’t initially approved, but despite fear and doubts, I decided to write to the organizers. That’s when a spot opened up. I was invited. I believe this was not a coincidence, but fate.” 

Svitlana at the final event of the “ReStart of Consciousness” program, October 2025. Photo: NGO “Impact Force”

The program “ReStart of Consciousness 2025” teaches modern stress management techniques, helps cope with traumatic experiences, and builds helpful habits for recovery and relaxation. Within the program, Svitlana received free, professional, and personalized psychological support, tools for daily self-regulation, and a safe space for recovery. 

“It was different here. In the “ReStart of Consciousness 2025” program, they worked with us so gently that I somehow relaxed.” 

By practicing the exercises daily that help calm the mind, she was able to maintain psychological balance even under constant shelling. 

“I adopted several exercises and now practice MRR (the Mental Relaxation Technique — Ed.) on a daily basis.”
“The shelling became constant, and I realize that my condition would have worsened proportionally. However, this did not happen.”
“I am confident that it was the program that allowed me to maintain my condition.” 

Today, Svitlana shares the knowledge she received with her family and community, feeling that her experience can become a support for other women. 

“I share with my family, friends, and church members certain tools and knowledge I gained from the course.”

The support provided through the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) gave Svitlana not only the tools for recovery but also a sense of the value of her own experience.

“I dream that people in Ukraine become more trauma-informed, that they seek psychologists more often and more easily. That the state has psychological support programs. And I want to be part of this process — helping people recover.” 

This project is produced by NGO “Impact Force”, 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.