A 98-year-old grandmother named Lydia made a remarkable journey, walking miles alone through Russian-occupied territory to reach Ukrainian-controlled areas.
- She woke up to shelling and decided to flee her home for survival
- Lydia got separated from her son and daughter-in-law amid the chaos
- Despite her age, she walked over 6 miles carrying just a cane
Harrowing Escape from Occupied Area
Lydia had tried to evacuate with her family when the shelling started near their home in Russian-occupied Donetsk. But they became separated as explosions rang out.
Undeterred, the 98-year-old kept walking alone for over 10 kilometres (6 miles), wearing just slippers and using a cane for support. She fell twice but picked herself back up to continue the arduous trek.
Found by Police, Reunited with Family
After crossing Ukrainian lines, local police spotted the older woman and took her to a shelter. They were amazed by Lydia’s resilience in making the journey at her age.
Police worked to locate her loved ones, and happily, they tracked down Lydia’s son and daughter-in-law alive in a nearby hospital. Plans are underway to reunite the family soon.
Surviving Two Wars, Losing Her Home
In an interview, Lydia reflected on the outlasting of of not just this conflict but also World War II when she was much younger. However, she lamented, “The previous war had not been like this one. I hadn’t seen any homes burned.”
Lydia told police she had built her home with her hands over the years. But it was destroyed in the fighting, leaving the 98-year-old with nothing. Moved by her plight, a Ukrainian banker vowed to buy Lydia a new home.
A Resilient Spirit
Despite fleeing alone at 98, Lydia showed terrific courage and determination to reach safety despite the unimaginable hardship. Her harrowing story underscores the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
What gives an older woman like Lydia the strength to endure such an ordeal? Her resilient spirit in the face of war is truly inspiring.
