Tetiana Nikolenko, 68, and her husband, 69, are from Mykolaiv. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. Before the war, both were retired. Their daughters had jobs and they led a quiet, well-organised life. 

“The remnants of our previous life, shattered by the war” 

“We lived in an incredibly beautiful, green area,” recalls Tetiana. “Nothing is left of it. The shockwave from a missile shattered the windows and doors of our apartment, destroyed all the furniture and broke all the appliances.” Her husband sustained multiple injuries: his face, arm and leg were pierced by countless tiny shards of glass. 

“We spent three days clearing the apartment of the remnants of our previous life: everything had become useless debris,” Tetiana continues. 

When the war began, Tetiana and her husband had decided to remain in Ukraine, despite their daughters urging them to come to Romania. They were adamant that they did not want to leave their home. 

“When our home was destroyed, we began the process of applying for international passports, as we didn’t have any. During this period, relatives living 200 kilometres from Mykolaiv took us in, as it was impossible to stay in our apartment. Once everything was ready, we left for Bucharest.”

Being welcomed in Romania 

“A few days after our arrival in Bucharest, we got in touch with JRS Romania”, recalls Tetiana. “We started taking part in the activities organised by JRS. Our grandchildren attended Romanian language classes. I really enjoyed the grandparents’ gatherings. I also greatly appreciated the creative workshops designed specifically for older people, and I never miss the fairs that are regularly held here. But JRS Romania is not just about events and services: there is a special atmosphere here. Often we approach the staff just to ask for advice, directions, or to get the right contacts.”

Recently, Tetiana and her husband took part in the medical support programme offered by JRS Romania, which allows them to access regular check-ups and medications that they otherwise could not afford. 

What will the future look Like? 

“We survive solely on our pensions and the support of organisations. Even so, it is barely enough, although both of us receive pensions slightly above the average. This is why many people are forced to return to Ukraine, even under bombardment, because at least there they don’t have to pay rent—provided their homes are still standing. Any form of support programme, especially those related to health, is a lifeline for many.”

The family still does not know how their life will be in the future. For now, they will stay in Romania for as long as they can and are not considering moving to another country.“We have been lucky. We truly feel part of this community.”

“I don’t want to go back to bombs and rockets. Our mental health has already suffered from the time spent in Mykolaiv. As far as we are concerned… nothing in our apartment was left intact. The most important thing is safety.”

JRS is working together with the Xavier Network, the Society of Jesus in Europe, local civil society, and NGOs in a coordinated Jesuit response to the Ukraine crisis. Together we help thousands of people like Inna. Read more in the One Proposal Mid-Term Report 2025.