When Iryna returned to her village in eastern Ukraine following the Russian invasion, she discovered her colorful family home in ruins. Under the rubble of her neighbor's house, she found her son's remains. Despite the immense hardships, Iryna and her husband are determined to rebuild.
In The Garden Lies Her Son: One Ukrainian Woman Vows To Rebuild Her Life
Iryna, 60, looks at the grave of her son Roman, which lies in the garden of her home in the village of Dovhenke in eastern Ukraine. Her son was 39 years old when he was killed by Russian shelling.
Following the Russian invasion, Iryna and her husband fled their home in April 2022 to live with one of their sons in the city of Zhytomyr. Upon their return, they found their home shattered by shelling. Nearby they found the remains of their missing son under the rubble of their neighbor's home.
Iryna and her husband attempted to live in the basement of their shattered home, but the winter months proved to be too harsh to endure.
When the couple returned in the spring of this year, they found trip wires attached to three grenades. However, that has not stopped them from replanting their garden, repainting the shattered facades, and rebuilding their family home, where they raised their sons.
Iryna holds a treasured photograph of her five sons, showing Roman (2nd from left), who now appears in her dreams. Another son is serving in the military.
With no outside help, the process of rebuilding will take a considerable amount of time. Authorities in Kyiv have set up programs to help those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed during the war.
Iryna reacts as she ponders the difficult task that she and her husband face as the sounds of explosions rumble in the distance.
The couple takes solace in the visits from their grandchildren, who love the peaceful surroundings of the flower-filled garden.