Echoes of the Past, Faith for the Future: Liudmyla’s Story from Ukraine

A firsthand account of Liudmyla Rozhenko, a woman who recently fled the frontline city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region. Her story is one of narrow escapes, ancestral echoes, and the quiet miracle of survival.

A History of Survival

In July 2025, Liudmyla reached a breaking point. Exhausted by the endless flight of drones and aerial bombs, the destruction of her town, and the death of innocent neighbours, she left her half-ruined home behind. She fled to Kropyvnytskyi in the Kirovohrad region. The choice of location was deeply personal; it was her father's homeland.

"He was born and raised here, although he did not have time to grow up—he was born in 1926," Liudmyla shares. "At the end of 1941, when he was 15, the German invaders came... loaded them into wooden railcars and took them to Germany to work in concentration camps."

Her father survived the camp, recovering over six long months in a hospital when doctors thought he wouldn't make it.  "But he did survive, and now I, his daughter, am following in his footsteps through hardship and trials."

Under the Shadow of the "Cursed War"

Before her escape, daily life for Liudmyla in Kostiantynivka was defined by severe restrictions. The city lived under a brutal curfew from 15:00 to 11:00 the next morning. In the brief four-hour window between 11:00 and 15:00, residents rushed out to work, pharmacies, and markets, constantly followed by rockets and drones.

Liudmyla survived two terrifyingly close encounters that she will remember for the rest of her life:

• The Drone Above the Tree: While running home one afternoon, a drone locked onto her. She sought cover under a tree, wrapped her arms around the trunk, and began desperately reciting the Lord's Prayer. “The drone just hung above the tree over me... I quietly repeated, ‘God gives me strength,’ and then I saw the drone fly on past me.”

• The Blue-Eyed Soldier: Just days later, running home from a pharmacy, she heard a chilling buzz behind her. Suddenly, an unknown young soldier grabbed her, pulled her under a damaged roof, and covered her mouth. Seconds later, a high-explosive aerial bomb detonated nearby, shattering the air. The soldier left her with a life-saving piece of advice before disappearing back to his unit:  “You must not run when a guided aerial bomb is flying, because it reacts to human movement, explodes, and kills.”

The Ruin of a Beautiful City

The destruction hit closest to home when two aerial bombs struck Liudmyla's immediate neighbourhood. Seeking refuge behind the two-wall safety of her bathroom, she listened to the world shake and windows shatter.

When she finally stepped outside, she walked through crushed glass into a scene of absolute devastation. The attack killed six people and hospitalised eight. Among the dead was her immediate neighbour, a kind mother of five children who had been standing too close to a window.

Kostiantynivka was once a bustling industrial hub—a beautiful city where people from neighbouring Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, and Toretsk traveled daily for work. Today, not a single business, school, or kindergarten remains intact. Yet, despite having no electricity, water, or gas, many residents stubbornly remain.

"People die every day, and no one can stop this cursed war," says Liudmyla. "There seems to be no end. Yet I believe that the war will eventually end. God has guided me through all the difficulties and given me faith in life. Glory to God! We will not give up!!!"

How BREADtrust is Bringing Light

When Liudmyla arrived in Kropyvnytskyi, carrying the immense physical and emotional shock of what she had survived, she wasn't left to face the dark alone. Through BREADtrust’s local network, she was welcomed with open arms by the "House of God’s Grace" church.

Local church workers, including Tetyana Bohomaz and Olena Bohomaz, showed her immediate compassion, helping her stand on her feet when she felt entirely broken.

"I want to sincerely thank the kind people who welcomed me with love," Liudmyla says. "I am deeply grateful to Tetyana and Olena for the compassion they showed me, for not turning away in a difficult situation, and for helping me stand on my feet and not fall. They are gradually opening my soul to God."

Liudmyla’s journey shows us that while the trauma outlasts the explosions, love and community can help piece a shattered life back together. Through your support, local churches remain on the ground to provide a safe harbour for those fleeing the frontlines.

Partner with us to keep supporting survivors. Your donations directly fund local churches and relief networks in Ukraine, providing food, shelter, medical aid, and a loving community to lean on.

Donate to BREADtrust today at breadtrust.com/donate