Psychosocial support amid shelling in Zaporizhzhia: Vira’s story

‘I am grateful my windows survived. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise,’ recalls Vira, thinking back to yet another shell landing near her home. Vira, (80), lives by herself in Zaporizhzhia, in the area worst affected by shelling in the ongoing conflict. Following one of the attacks, the ceiling in one of the rooms of her house collapsed due to the blast wave: ‘I saw a bright white glow, and I was very frightened. People died that day, it was horrific.’

People feel most vulnerable during explosions, especially those who are lonely. That’s because the realisation of the unknown and fear quickly creep into one’s thoughts. Vira says that only prayer helps her during such difficult moments.

It is important for Vira to have someone nearby who will listen to her and support her in coping with the anxiety that follows the attacks. Thanks to support from EO Metterdaad, Vira receives psychological support from Dorcas specialist Hanna as part of a home visit programme. During these sessions, the psychologist incorporates elements of art therapy to support Vira in managing the effects of stress. ‘I enjoy our meetings with Hanna. After talking to her, I feel only positive emotions,’ Vira says, smiling. A Dorcas volunteer also visited her to assist with grocery shopping, as this is difficult for Vira due to her advanced age.

Although Vira lives in the city, she has still faced many challenges this winter. Due to pressure fluctuations caused by power cuts, her gas heating was unreliable and poor quality, not to mention expensive. ‘When the electricity came back on, I tried to heat the flat with an infrared heater,’ she explains. To support her during this time of crisis, the Dorcas Ukraine team provided Vira with an emergency response kit to keep her home warm and lit during blackouts. This support has made a real difference to the lives of older people like Vira.

28 April 2026