Native Places
Native Places
Life in Mykolaivka, Donetsk Oblast
A short film about Maria and Olha — lifelong residents of a battered apartment block in Mykolaivka. As air strikes continue and frontline battles grind on less than ten miles east, Olha, the building’s manager, becomes a caretaker for the elderly who remain, and Maria, a portrait of quiet endurance amid the war’s daily toll.
Since early 2023, Insulate Ukraine has repaired 2,522 windows in Mykolaivka alone, part of a broader effort of 14,327 installations by our teams across the Lyman region.
In Mykolaivka, those repairs have helped nearly 1,000 residents — restoring light, warmth, and a sense of home in a city still within drone range.
Watch the film via the link below.
Why it matters to our work: Insulate Ukraine operates in Mykolaivka—delivering warmth, light, and protection by sealing shattered windows with our rapid-response insulation kits. Our employees are more than workers; they are community-minded individuals whose roles with Insulate Ukraine create a ripple effect of support for others.
What you can do:
– Share the film with friends or family who may not understand what’s happening on the ground
– Support Insulate Ukraine’ emergency window replacement work.
Thank you for being part of this fight for light, shelter, and survival.
— Zachary
Lives on the Ground: A series of short vignettes told through text, photography and film. These stories are the unfiltered voices of the people that we meet and represent our commitment to the individual human experience during moments of change, conflict, or catastrophe.
Our ability to highlight voices like this stems directly from our on-the-ground efforts in Ukraine where we encounter extraordinary individuals with compelling stories daily. The continuation of this crucial work relies on the generous support of donors like you. Please consider making a donation.
Originally published via email on 09 October 2025.
View the original email version
