In the midst of a relentless war in eastern Ukraine, Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska made the brave decision to flee her Russian-occupied village. At the age of 98, Lomikovska embarked on a ten-kilometer journey on foot, alone and with only a walking stick to support her. The fighting had intensified in Ocheretyne, located right on the front line in the Donetsk region, forcing her family to evacuate after two long years of war.
Unfortunately, amidst the chaos of their departure, Lomikovska became separated from her son and two daughters-in-law. Undeterred by her age or circumstances, she continued her journey with determination in hand. With only a walking stick in one hand and a piece of wood in the other, Lomikovska walked for an entire day without food or water before finally reaching the Ukrainian lines.
It was at night that Ukrainian soldiers noticed her walking along a road and turned her over to the White Angels, a police force responsible for evacuating civilians on the front lines. Lomikovska was then transferred to a shelter where she was reunited with her family members. Despite everything she had been through during this war, Lomikovska expressed that it was worse than anything she had experienced before. She recounted falling twice along the way and having to sleep sporadically during her journey.
In recognition of her bravery and resilience in the face of adversity, Monobank, one of Ukraine’s largest banks announced that they would purchase a house for Lomikovska so that she could spend her final days comfortably surrounded by loved ones. This small gesture provided some solace for the old woman who had endured so much during this long war.