Years of War, 3 Years of Help: A Ukrainian Refugee Family’s Story of Survival, Resilience, and Hope in Romania/h3>
Three Years of War. Three Years of Suffering, Struggle, and the Desperate Search for Peace. Three Years of Hope and Aid. Since the first bombs fell on February 24, 2022, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to abandon their homes, leaving behind their lives, dreams, and memories. Among them is the Diachok family, whose story is a testament to human resilience, hope, and sacrifice in the face of a tragedy that seemed endless.
With time and the support of AIDRom, the Diachok family, like hundreds of other families who received help through AIDRom’s projects, began to regain hope. The daughters and their brother could once again dream of a future, far from the echoes of war. In the midst of suffering, they found warmth, understanding, and, above all, a new “family” and the chance for a better life.
In 2014, when Crimea was annexed, the Diachok family was forced to flee from danger, seeking refuge in the Kherson region. There, they tried to build a new life, leaving behind fear and uncertainty. But in 2022, war reached them again—Kherson was one of the first regions to be attacked and bombed by Russian forces. Gunfire and explosions became part of their daily reality, and survival became increasingly difficult.
In the chaos, they barely managed to escape to the outskirts of Kyiv. Here, they were offered half a house, but the living conditions were dire due to the bombings—no water, no electricity, and not enough food. Still, hope never left them. In the midst of despair, they learned about a “green corridor” that could lead them to safety. With heavy hearts but determined to save their future, they fled to Romania, arriving at the beginning of 2023.
In Romania, they searched for cities where they could work and rebuild their lives. Their first stop was Pitești, but eventually, they settled in Bucharest. Here, at Romexpo, they were welcomed with open arms and guided to AIDRom, where they found real support from the entire team.
A strong mother, a courageous father, two daughters, and a son eager to learn and create a new future received food, material aid, and emotional and spiritual counseling through the “Integration of Ukrainian Refugees in Romania” project, implemented by AIDRom with financial support from Brot für die Welt.
As they recount, the trauma of war continued to follow them—restless nights, nightmares of bombings, and memories of hunger haunted them. The counseling sessions offered by the AIDRom team became a bridge to healing.