Olga Prykhodko: Surviving Occupation and Rebuilding from Scratch

In the turbulent Zaporizhzhia region, a mere 40 kilometers from the front line, daily raid sirens last up to 5 hours. Despite these harrowing conditions, over 200 thousand internally displaced persons (IDPs) have sought refuge here, fleeing the temporarily occupied territories of the region and rebuilding their lives amidst war. Among them is 26-year-old Olga Prykhodko.

Born and raised in Polohy, less than 100 kilometers from Zaporizhzhia, Olga experienced the full-scale invasion while working as a masseuse after graduating from a local university with a degree in rehabilitation. The relentless explosions, missile attacks, chaos, and uncertainty frightened Olga, and she decided to move back to Polohy, where her mother lived with her family. In March 2022, Polohy was captured and occupied by the Russian army.
 
“All hell broke loose. There was no electricity, and no water. To collect water, the locals went to the marshy river and tried to find a source of clean water among the reeds. Shops were robbed in the first days of the occupation, so we were in a shortage of food. But the worst and the scariest were the Russian occupiers. The enemies were going around the village with heavy military equipment,” Olga recalls and adds, “Once we tried to find water, and as soon as we turned from the main street to the alley, we heard shots – Russian military shot the cars standing nearby us. As there was no internet and mobile connection, the Russians spread rumors that Zaporizhzhia was already occupied. We did not even think about the future, because our main task was to survive."
 
When Olga and her family learned that the regional center of Zaporizhzhia and nearby cities Orikhiv and Gulyaypole, remained under Ukrainian control, they made a courageous decision to escape despite constant threats.  Their family house was perilously close to a local factory used by the Russian soldiers as a military training ground, placing it in direct line of fire.
 
In April 2022, after navigating nine military checkpoints where the occupying Russian soldiers thoroughly inspected their belongings and checked men for patriotic tattoos, Olga and her family finally reached Ukrainian-controlled territory-a stark reminder of the constant threat and uncertainty the IDPs face.

Olga admits that when she saw the Ukrainian checkpoints, she sighed with relief, and a new life began with new challenges. She had to work to buy new household items as she couldn’t take lots of her belongings after leaving her own city. The whole family decided to stay in Zaporizhzhia, because, as Olga says, "it's almost like our home." 

Upon arriving in Zaporizhia, Olga found support in the form of a massage course organized by the NGO 'Center Pobratym' with technical support from UN Women Ukraine and funding from the United Nations Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). This course, part of the “Three reference points for the recovery of IDP women” project, provided Olga with the opportunity to reskill and secure new employment. She attended the reskilling courses together with her mother, Lyubov, who, before Russia's full-scale invasion, worked in a hospital, where she also worked as a masseuse. Thanks to the course, Olga has already received a new job.

"Learning is interesting and useful! Thanks to our teacher - Yevhen Bulat, I explored, gained knowledge of and learnt classical massage, scraping techniques, cupping therapy, and the basics of stone therapy. I used this knowledge to expand the list of services that I can perform, so I received an additional benefit in employment. The certificate of completion of the massage course helped me win the competition and get a new rehabilitation job at the Zaporizhzhia Regional Children's Hospital," Olga shares.

Olga admits that any support is essential for IDP women in Ukraine: "I personally need new knowledge — I would like to attend courses on providing pre-medical aid, self-defense, and driving a car, because you never know what will happen next. And I know hundreds of people who need financial support, reskilling, and legal assistance."

The project is produced by CSO “Center Pobratym” 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 story 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.