A Ukrainian teacher blinded by a Russian missile strike says war is becoming ‘more dangerous every day’.
Olena Kurylo, 54, became the face of Vladimir Putin’s brutality when photographers sent harrowing images of her bandaged face around the world after the attack in Kharkiv on the first day of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
The Mail on Sunday swung into action, helping her flee the war zone to receive specialist treatment in Poland and, months later, in the UK.
The treatment and rehabilitation lasted a year. Although Olena received support from doctors and journalists, she often felt homesick.
“The people I met during my treatment became my best friends… but when I was abroad, I always felt a kind of guilt inside for not being with my people[Ukrainians]. I really wanted to be home,” she told The Mail on Sunday.
Olena returned to Ukraine last year, but says her daily life has only gotten worse lately.
Chuhuiv, in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, where Olena is located, has been constantly suffering from Russian attacks for the past 3 months.
Olena Kurylo (pictured) became the face of the Ukraine war after Russia’s invasion in 2022
Earlier this month, a Russian missile hit the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital, one of the largest in kyiv. Two people were killed and more than 50 were injured, including seven children.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with world leaders and King Charles to discuss an international agreement to “stop Russian terrorism.”
Earlier, in one of his video addresses, Zelensky said Russian forces had used more than 2,400 bombs in June, with about 700 targeting Kharkiv.
The town of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, where Olena is located, has been under constant Russian attacks for the past three months. According to her, the weapons are becoming more powerful and the attacks are increasing every day.
Two weeks ago, Olena survived another close attack: a heavy missile fell just a kilometer from her home and hit her neighbor’s house. It was the first time she hid in the basement.
Before the war, Olena was a kindergarten teacher and she misses her job. Many families with children left Chuhuiv in search of safety and the city’s kindergartens closed their doors.
Despite all the difficulties, Olena tries to stay positive and find things to be grateful for. She focuses on trying new hobbies, such as listening to audiobooks and gardening, as well as high-intensity Tabata workouts.
As a symbol of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Olena is eager to help her country in any way possible.
He is considering going to the front to speak to soldiers and wants to create a fund to help children orphaned by the war.
He also helps the Ukrainian army with donations: “Even if I only give a cent, I feel better.”
Olena was injured in a Russian airstrike on February 24, 2022, two days after the invasion.
Having regained his sight thanks to donations from Mail readers, he is now considering going to the front to speak to soldiers and wants to set up a fund to help orphaned children.
He warned that the war is becoming increasingly dangerous (Photograph from May 2024)
Olena is convinced that her mission is to remind the world that Ukraine still needs help: “I know that everyone is tired of the war or has become accustomed to it, but I ask you to be with us until the end, until our victory.”
In her own way, Olena is also tired of war: peace would mean she could finally have a “good night’s sleep” without the terror of missile attacks.
“No matter how difficult things are, all we have is the here and now, and we need to seek inspiration every day,” he said.
“Our victory is not a question, it is only a matter of time.”
