The story of Hennadiy Antonenko

This story is part of a series of first-person accounts written by refugees in Moldova. With support from the European Union, UNHCR Moldova provides cash assistance that helps families cover their most urgent needs. The words below belong to Hennadiy, who chose to share his experience in his own voice.

My name is Hennadiy, I am 68 years old, from Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region. In April 2022, my wife and I were forced to leave our home and move to Chișinău, Moldova. My other family followed, including my granddaughter. Since then, life has completely changed.

Before the war, my days were active and full. I worked, did sports, helped raise my grandchildren, tended the garden at our dacha*, and went on holidays. Now I no longer work. I spend my time talking with neighbors, helping to raise my granddaughter, and caring for our pets. At my age, in a new country, far from home, every day feels different — and not always easy.

My strength and comfort come from my family and our dog. Relatives and friends help me cope with difficulties, and small hobbies distract me from problems.

Here in Moldova, I receive financial assistance from UNHCR. This support covered food and medicines, for which I am sincerely grateful. But it did not cover rent and utility payments, which remain a heavy burden. Financial support in this situation is very important for me. Without it, managing would have been extremely difficult.

Challenges still remain: paying for utilities, buying medicines, undergoing medical check-ups. Despite my own difficulties, I try to help others. I share food with people in need, including homeless citizens of Moldova. This is my way of making a contribution and helping as much as I can.

I would like people outside Moldova to understand our situation. We are in a very difficult position. Being an elderly person in a foreign country is not easy. There is no certainty about tomorrow. Since we are from the Donetsk region, I don’t know if we will ever be able to return home.

Despite everything, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone in this country. Without your support, I would not have managed. I sincerely hope for continued assistance.

*Dacha – a small house or cottage with a garden plot, where urban residents spend weekends, summers, or holidays outside the city.

With the support of the European Union, Hennadiy and his family, like many other Ukrainian refugee families, have found safety and stability away from home.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 130,000 people have received this vital assistance.