Kapacin Family
Needs A Home

The co-owners of the house are:

1. Mother – Olena Onufriivna Kharenko, 84 years old, pensioner, labor veteran, widow of a Chernobyl worker.
2. Son – Oleksandr Mykolaiovych Kharenko, 46 years old, unemployed.
3. Daughter – Lesia Mykolaivna Kapatsin, 53 years old, a master’s degree in psychology.

Lesia shared, “This is my profession, which grew out of my childhood hobby. I also love sewing, doing haircuts, and hairstyles. Creative work helps me cope with current events. My work involves helping Ukrainians with personal and family issues and helping them cope with the trauma of war. I used to see my mother and brother before the war. The war found me while I was away. I didn’t return to Irpin, as it was occupied. As a refugee, I moved to France, and I’ve been living here for two years now.”

At the beginning of the war, Olena and her son lived in Irpin. On March 6, 2022, a shell hit their house while they were in the basement, which saved their lives. However, they couldn’t leave because the streets of the city were under fire. It was dangerous to leave the house. When the “green corridor” was established on March 10, 2022, they managed to evacuate through the Irpin Bridge despite the ongoing shelling. Their dog, who was running after them, fell into the cold water of the Irpin River during the crossing.

On March 10, 2022, the shell that hit the house detonated, causing a fire in the building. Olena was deeply affected by the loss of their home. She frequently talked about suicidal thoughts. Only now has she started to recover a bit. Initially, their relatives in Cherkasy region took them in. When Irpin was liberated, their relatives in the area welcomed Olena and her son.