How Olga reclaimed her life & land in Ukraine
In brief
After fighting left hidden explosives in Olga and Viktor's village in Ukraine, they were unsure if they would ever regain their ordinary routine. Until deminers arrived.
74-year-old Olga Boiko and her husband, Viktor, once lived a quiet, peaceful life in the village of Novyi Bykiv in northern Ukraine.
They kept busy each day farming crops, managing their household, and raising livestock. Their cows, pigs, rabbits, and goats roamed the grassy fields around the home.
Viktor plowed the fields himself with their family tractor. There, they grew tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and other crops to sell at the local market. Members of their large, lively family were frequent and welcome visitors.
This idyllic life changed dramatically when Russian troops arrived in Novyi Bykiv.
They occupied the village for 33 days. The danger they left behind lasted far longer.
After the occupation ended, Ukrainian troops came to check for any remaining threats. They found several explosives near Olga and Viktor鈥檚 home. They warned the couple to move with extreme caution, stay out of the forest, and avoid farming their land.
Faced with few options, Olga and Victor sold most of their livestock. They said goodbye to loved ones who are now fighting in the war. They lived cautiously, unable to grow crops, tend to their animals, or venture into the familiar area around their home.
Deminers began working in Novyi Bykiv in 2025. With them, they brought more than just heavy machines and specialized equipment to clear landmines. They brought hope that parts of normal life could return.
Simply seeing the teams working each day 鈥� carefully identifying dangerous areas and removing explosives, all the way from a sweltering summer into a freezing winter 鈥� brought Olga hope. She knew she would soon regain the parts of her everyday life she deeply missed.
To date, more than 22 acres of land around Novyi Bykiv has been cleared of explosives. Olga and Viktor are back to farming their land safely, and they expect a good harvest this year.
They can graze their remaining livestock. Their goat, Kalynka, has plenty of food and space to roam. They have returned to the forest, gathering firewood and enjoying walks outside.
Despite the ongoing challenges of war in Ukraine, landmine clearance is restoring small moments of peace for families like Olga鈥檚.
I hope that demining will continue, and that teams like the one working near my home will carry on their work鈥� I want to believe you will not leave us to face this hardship alone.
This holiday season, give the gift of an ordinary day to more families 鈥� in Ukraine and beyond.
You can restore the everyday moments that landmines take away. Give today.
