“We Spent About Two Weeks in the Basement”: What a Family from Izium Went Through During Six Months of Occupation
The family of 11-year-old Davyd will never forget the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. They lived in Izium, Kharkiv region—a city occupied by Russian forces in April 2022. Terrified, the parents and their children spent weeks hiding in a cold, damp basement.
“We had some pickled cucumbers, lard, and raw eggs. We were even afraid to go outside to boil water for tea or light the stove so the smoke wouldn’t give us away,” recalls Davyd’s mother, Liudmyla.
She says her daughter, Sonia, was very frightened and cried often. Davyd, on the other hand, had to grow up quickly and learn things no child should ever have to learn—weapons, the sounds of missiles, and how to set up a shelter. Only after six months were the Ukrainian Armed Forces able to liberate the city. Davyd’s family is slowly returning to normal life.
“What makes me happy now is that the war has moved further away from our city and the explosions aren’t as loud anymore,” says Davyd.
Hundreds of families in the Kharkiv region have been left without homes and the essentials they need to live. To help support children and their families, follow the link. Together, we can bring back their smiles.