Today, on May 15, Ukrainians mark the International Family Day on their calendars. Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, this holiday has been very painful for our citizens. Find out more about how the realities of war have affected Ukrainian families who have lost their homes and their normal lives

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International Family Day is celebrated annually on May 15. For many people, family is the most important thing in life, the main support and backbone, a place of peace and comfort. 

A family is a small universe that has its own special story of life, love, memories, and important dates. 

Unfortunately, most Ukrainian families are currently going through one of the most difficult trials in their lives: the war. The russian army is not just striking the country every day, it is changing the fate of millions of families, someone's small universes. Now the story of every family in Ukraine is a story of pain, anxiety, and hope. And there are thousands of such stories. 

Ukrainian families are losing their homes and their lives

Many people lost their homes because the war destroyed them. According to ADRA Ukraine, the family of Lilia Postelniak from the town of Krasnohorivka in Donetsk region has suffered from the war twice. The first time the village was shelled nine years ago. In February 2022, history repeated itself. The family decided to evacuate because it was impossible to live in a basement without electricity and water with a small child. 

The town near Marianka is located right on the front line, and most of the houses there have already been destroyed. Families have nowhere to return to. 

Photo: Konstantin and Vlada Liberov

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian families lived in bomb shelters. Lesia, a mother of many children from Bucha who has a disability, survived the entire period of the city's occupation without electricity and water with her four-month-old baby in the basement. Fortunately, Ukrainian defenders liberated the city. Now, normal life is gradually returning to Bucha. 

However, thousands of Ukrainian families in various frontline towns in Ukraine continue to live under constant shelling, in damp bomb shelters without electricity or water. 

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A human dies, the whole world dies 

The worst thing that can happen in war is the loss of loved ones. The story of 18-year-old Viacheslav from Verkhniotoretske in Donetsk region is shocking. The boy remained the eldest in the family and became a guardian for his two brothers and two sisters after his mother was killed by shelling.

The fate of many Ukrainian families was destroyed by a russian X-22 missile that hit a high-rise building in a residential area of Dnipro on January 14, 2023. Children were orphaned, while in other families, parents lost their children forever. Even entire families were killed. In particular, the death of an entire family that had gathered together for a holiday was confirmed. A family of 7 people were in a house for a family celebration when a rocket hit it. The youngest girl, Anna, was only 15 years old. Marina and Andriy came to their parents, Yana and Oleksandr. Together they went to visit their grandparents. The rocket hit their house.

Maryna Figurna and Andriy Osynsky / Photo: Arina Medvedeva

Photo: Office of the President

Every day, every hour, many Ukrainian families lose their men in the war. The Ukrainians who stood up to defend the country and gave their lives will be remembered by their parents, women and children forever. 

Loss of communication and distance is another challenge for Ukrainian families

The war divided many families. Men went to the front, women were forced to go abroad in search of refuge.

 Some families are also divided by the occupation. In many families, parents, grandparents, or siblings have remained in the occupation, in complete danger and without contact. People are unable to leave their homes for various reasons, losing the opportunity not only to be close to their families but also to communicate freely. 

Family will defeat evil 

However, even in such dark times, family and love prevail. In the first six months of 2022, a record number of marriages were registered - 103,903. This is 21% more than in the same period in 2021 and an absolute record for the last 7 years. People find love even in war. We told you about the amazing stories of the military earlier. 

Families also save - the families of doctors, volunteers, and the military are treating, supporting, protecting, and confidently bringing victory closer every minute. 

The war has reminded us how important it is to spend more time with our families, because family is strength and hope. Now Ukrainians are one big family that will definitely overcome all difficulties and be happy under the peaceful Ukrainian sky.

We remind you! Experts and the military have different predictions about when the war will end. Read more about the percentage of Ukrainian citizens who believe that the war will end with our victory by 2024 in our article.

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