“My whole life fits into a single suitcase.”

On 24 February 2022, like millions of other Ukrainians, she awoke to a new reality marked by fear and uncertainty. Kyiv — which, despite the war that had been ongoing since 2014, had felt relatively secure — was rapidly transformed into a city where no one knew where the next strike would land.

“There was no information, no guidance. Should we stay, leave, or hide? No one knew,” Lara recalls.

The decision to leave

At first, she remained in her flat. But as the missiles drew closer and her family’s anxiety intensified, the decision was made to leave the city. She travelled to Chernivtsi in western Ukraine, where her relatives lived — convinced it would be for only a couple of weeks.

“I packed the essentials. Clothes, documents, my laptop. My whole life fitted into a suitcase and a backpack.”

A life displaced

The move marked the beginning of a new and involuntary existence as an internally displaced person. The first months were characterised by shock and isolation. Everyone around her was equally frightened and uncertain. There was no strong network to rely on.

“I relied on myself,” she says simply.

In Chernivtsi, Lara came into contact with Zahyst, IM’s partner organisation, which supports displaced people with accommodation, food and clothing. Shortly afterwards, she was offered a role there as finance manager. Today, she is part of a civil society effort that, even in the midst of war, works to create safety, protect rights and promote inclusion for those most severely affected.

The war continues — far from the front line

Yet even here, the war is ever-present. In Chernivtsi, air-raid sirens, air defence systems, missiles and drones are a regular occurrence. During the winter, electricity supplies are frequently disrupted — at times available for only a few hours a day. People are forced to adapt quickly to new shortages, and Lara is one of them. She describes how she has learned to ration scarce resources and make the best of an extremely constrained existence.

A hope for peace

Three years after fleeing, she now lives with two homes: the one she was forced to leave in Kyiv, and the one she has rebuilt. Her wish is simple — and shared by millions of Ukrainians.

“I want Ukraine to win. As soon as possible.”

Lara’s story is one of many. It illustrates what war does to people’s lives — and how vital support for civil society and for those forced to flee is, every single day.

Text and photo: Zahyst
Edited by: Malin Kihlström