In the small Ukrainian village of Mospanove, life changed forever when war arrived in 2022. For Kostiantyn, a father of six, survival quickly became about more than protecting his own family, it became about protecting his entire community.
When the village came under occupation in March 2022, Kostiantyn chose to stay behind. While many fled, he transformed his property into a bomb shelter for neighbours who had nowhere else to go. Twenty-one people, most of them elderly, sheltered there as shelling intensified around the village.
“The responsibility fell on me,” he said. “I could not simply leave people behind.”
A New Reality
Before the war, Mospanove was a peaceful rural community where life revolved around work, family, and neighbours. Today, the scars of conflict remain everywhere. After the village was liberated in September 2022, residents returned to homes damaged by shelling and roads lined with unexploded ordnance.
We practically carried out demining ourselves,” Kostiantyn explained. Mines, grenades, cartridges, and shells had to be removed from homes, schools, and public buildings before life could begin again.
The recovery process has been slow and difficult. For over a year and a half, the village had no electricity. Water and gas systems had to be restored by hand, and many homes remain badly damaged. Bomb blasts cracked roofs and walls, while winter frost and rain caused further destruction once moisture seeped inside.
Today, building materials are one of the community’s greatest needs. Employment opportunities in the village are scarce, making it impossible for many families to afford repairs on their own.
“Any assistance makes a huge difference,” Kostiantyn said.
The war’s emotional impact has also left lasting wounds. Even now, sudden loud noises trigger memories of shelling and force people into survival mode. “You are constantly on alert,” he said. “I do not think that feeling will ever completely disappear.”
Despite everything, Kostiantyn continues to hope for the future of his village. But he knows recovery will take years, especially for small rural communities like Mospanove that are often overlooked.
If people stop helping us, it will be very difficult,- Humanitarian support is critically important.
For families in villages like Mospanove, aid is not just about rebuilding homes. It is about restoring safety, dignity, and the possibility of a future after war.
You could help families like Kostiantyn’s by donating. Just $25 helps a family survive.
