Lidia Stepanivna Lomikovska, a 98-year-old Ukrainian woman, embarked on an extraordinary journey to escape the conflict engulfing her home as Russian forces advanced in the eastern Donetsk region. Amidst the chaos of war and separated from her family, Lomikovska’s tenacity saw her traverse almost 10 kilometers (6 miles) alone, armed only with her slippers and a cane for support.
Having made the decision to leave Ocheretyne with her family, Lomikovska found herself alone when her son and daughters-in-law took alternative routes to evade the conflict. But rather than follow, she chose the main road, a decision that led to a grueling day-long walk. “I woke up surrounded by shooting all around — so scary,” Lomikovska recounted in a video interview. Her determination was palpable as she described the harrowing details of her escape. “Once I lost balance and fell into weeds. I fell asleep … a little, and continued walking. And then, for the second time, again, I fell. But then I got up and thought to myself: ‘I need to keep walking, bit by bit,'” she said.
The perilous journey included falls, periods of rest, and a night spent outside without food or water. The image of Lomikovska, persisting through such adversity, is a profound symbol of the human will to survive amidst the horrors of war.
Her resilience was rewarded when Ukrainian soldiers, spotting her in the evening, delivered her into the care of the “White Angels,” a police group specializing in evacuating citizens from the front line. They brought her to a shelter for evacuees and facilitated a reunion with her relatives.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Lomikovska drew parallels between the current conflict and her memories of World War II, saying, “I survived that war. I had to go through this war too, and in the end, I am left with nothing. That war wasn’t like this one. I saw that war. Not a single house burned down. But now – everything is on fire.”
In a heartening update to Lomikovska’s story, the generosity of the Ukrainian people shone through when the chief executive of Monobank, one of Ukraine’s largest banks, announced the bank’s commitment to provide her with a new home. “Monobank will buy Lydia Stepanivna a house and she will surely live in it until the moment when this abomination disappears from our land,” Oleh Horokhovskyi declared.
Relevant articles:
– A 98-Year-Old in Ukraine Walked Miles to Safety from Russians, With Slippers and a Cane, Military, 05/01/2024
– 98-year-old Ukrainian woman walks miles in her slippers to escape fighting, NBC News, 04/30/2024
– 98-year-old in Ukraine escapes Russian troops by walking for miles, with slippers and a cane, Fox News, 05/01/2024
– Ukrainian woman, 98, escapes Russian-occupied home on foot with slippers, cane, Voice of America – VOA News, 05/01/2024
– Ukrainian woman, 98, walks six miles alone to escape Russian-held territory, The Guardian, 04/30/2024