War changes everything. For those caught in its grip, survival often hinges on resilience, resourcefulness, and community support. In Ukraine, where the horrors of conflict have scarred countless lives, Ukrainians have not only embraced this lesson but have made it the foundation of their resilience and resistance. Valentyna from Chernihiv embodies this spirit perfectly. As strange as it may sound, this is a story about Valentyna, her cow, the war, and the support from the European Union.
When war comes into your life
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Valentyna's hometown of Chernihiv was one of the first targets. For 3 weeks, Valentyna hid in her home, surviving brutal shelling, freezing nights in a cellar, and hunger.
At one point, after 1 week in the cellar, when Valentyna finally held a piece of bread in her hands, her leg twisted and unable to support her, she was so overcome with emotion that she burst into tears.
On 20 March, as fighting reached her street, she fled to a small apartment in the city. Left behind was her cow Vyshnia (Cherry in Ukrainian – auth.) - a faithful companion and helper who had supported Valentyna for 15 years.
‘I had no help, my daughter lost her job, my pension is ₴3400 (€75 – auth.). How can we live with the current prices? That cow was the only thing that supported us back then,’ says Valentyna.
From that moment on, every day at 5 am, Valentyna would wake up, ride her bike to the Desna River, fetch water for Vyshnia and take it home to give it a drink and feed it. ‘I just couldn't leave her to her fate,’ she explains.
One of those trips almost cost Valentyna her life.
‘One morning I arrived and saw that the road was blocked by a tractor. A soldier came out from behind. I saw that he was not one of us, but a Russian,' Valentyna recalls, her voice full of fear.
Valentyna had seconds to react. ‘I quickly went out into the yard and that’s when our dog started barking. I knew something was wrong. I threw my bike down and pressed myself against the wall. At that moment this soldier broke through the fence with a burst of automatic fire. He shot at me. If it wasn’t for the dog... It was good that I reacted. Otherwise, he would have killed me.’
The loss and a newly found hope.
Tragically, Valentyna's cow was injured in one of the bombings. Despite her efforts to treat the animal, the wound worsened, and by May, Vyshnia had to be put down.
The loss was immense for Valentyna, both materially and emotionally. Her first cow had been a gift from her mother 35 years ago, providing milk for her newborn son when she couldn’t. During the war, the next cow continued to sustain her, her son, and many others in besieged Chernihiv.
The shelling in March 2022 was so intense that one day a wheel from this vehicle landed directly on the roof of Valentyna's house.
‘The cow was wonderful. She lived with us for 15 years. I was crying for her, I was so sorry that she did not leave us when it was time, but we had to put her to sleep,’ Valentyna says with pain in her voice.
But as you can probably guess, this story has a happy ending. After several months of grief, support came from the European Union and the French NGO Acted.
‘On 12 September last year, I was invited to a meeting and asked to fill out a form, and in October, I received the money - ₴28,500,’ Valentyna recalls. Without hesitation, she spent the grant to buy a new cow.
Meet Milka
‘We named her Milka. She is young, beautiful, healthy, but naughty, prideful, she runs away from the pasture and walks the streets, eating people's apples,’ Valentyna says while laughing. - ‘Yet, she always comes back home. People take pictures of her and send them to me. They call her a wanderer.’
When we visit Valentyna for the interview, Milka-the-wonderer is out in the pasture. Instead, her owner proudly shows us photos of her neighbour’s new cow.
Today, a cow named Milka is an incredible support for Valentyna. The milk she produces feeds her and her family also providing an extra income. For a woman whose pension is barely €80, selling a few litres of milk, cheese, or butter is a true lifesaver.
‘Taking care of a cow is hard work. But I made the right choice, I have no doubts about it. I have hope now.’