In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, one story stands out as a testament to the resilience and determination of its people. Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska, a 98-year-old woman, found herself facing a harrowing journey to safety after Russian troops entered her town of Ocheretyne in the eastern Donetsk region.
As fighting escalated and chaos ensued, Lidia and her family made the difficult decision to flee their home, and Lidia became separated from her loved ones, including her son and two daughters-in-law. Undeterred, she embarked on a courageous solo journey, armed only with a pair of slippers and a cane for support.
Despite her advanced age, she pressed on tirelessly, walking 10 kilometers on foot, sleeping along the way when needed, driven by a determination to reach safety. “I need to keep walking, bit by bit,” Lidia recounted, reflecting on her journey of survival.
Ukrainian soldiers, patrolling the area, spotted the elderly woman making her way along the road and swiftly came to her aid. They connected her with the “White Angels,” a group dedicated to evacuating citizens from the front lines, who ensured her safety and facilitated contact with her family.
“I made it through that war,” she recounted, recalling World War II. “Now, I’ve had to endure this conflict as well, and in the end, I’ve been left with nothing.
“The war back then was nothing like this one. I lived through it. Not a single house was burned down. But now, it’s a different story – everything is ablaze,” she remarked to her rescuer.
Now, amid the darkness of war, a ray of hope shines for Lidia. The chief executive of one of Ukraine’s largest banks has pledged to provide her with a new home, offering solace and stability in the midst of uncertainty.
[original text by 1News]
