04.04.2024 | People
Four residents recount their stories of escaping from war-torn cities and their journeys to Kovel, and share their impressions of the new apartments.
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- Two buildings formerly used for administrative and educational purposes in Kovel, Volyn oblast, were repurposed into housing for internally displaced Ukrainians under the “EU Support for Urgent Housing Needs for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ukraine” action, funded by the European Union and managed by Nefco.
Kovel, a city in Volyn oblast of northwestern Ukraine, serves as the administrative centre of the community bearing the same name. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the city, which has a population of around 68,000, has welcomed approximately 4,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the war-torn regions in the east and south of the country.
The two refurbished buildings underwent a major overhaul, converting them into energy-efficient housing for IDPs with a budget of EUR 1.86 million
To accommodate the influx of newcomers, an administrative building and an educational and maintenance building in Kovel were reconstructed into housing for internally displaced Ukrainians. The initiative was part of the EUR 19 million “EU Support for Urgent Housing Needs for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ukraine” action, funded by the European Union and managed by Nefco.
The two refurbished buildings underwent a major overhaul, converting them into energy-efficient housing for IDPs with a budget of EUR 1.86 million. An additional mansard floor was added to the two-storey administrative building, resulting in the creation of 18 one-room apartments. Similarly, the one-storey educational and maintenance building was rebuilt into a two-floor structure that now houses six one-room apartments. The reconstruction was carried out in accordance with the latest construction practices and energy efficiency standards.
“During the renovation process, the buildings underwent thermal modernisation. Walls, windows, and the roof were insulated to the strictest standards to minimise heat loss,” shares Alexey Dumik, Technical Adviser at Nefco. “One of the buildings also received a solar heating system, with solar collectors installed on the roof and hot water storage tanks in the basement. We anticipate that all hot water needs will be met by solar energy 70% of the time. Moreover, both houses are connected to the city boiler house, which utilises renewable fuels, further enhancing energy efficiency.”
“This EU-funded project, implemented in collaboration with Nefco, boosts the capacity of Ukrainian communities to provide housing and other essential services to IDPs by renovating existing municipal infrastructure to meet higher energy-efficiency standards. More importantly, it offers a sense of stability and support to Ukrainians who have fled to Kovel, helping them rebuild their lives in a safer environment,” says Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation to Ukraine.
On 12 March 2024, 24 internally displaced families from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions received the keys to new apartments in the two renovated buildings. Here, four of them tell their stories of escape from their war-torn home cities and their routes to Kovel.
Mariia
I come from Lyman, Donetsk oblast. Before the full-scale war, I lived with my daughter in Kharkiv, where I worked as a schoolteacher, while my mother lived in Lyman. On 24 February 2022, my child and I awoke up to explosions outside our window and sought refuge with my mother. Two weeks later, however, hostilities broke out there as well, prompting us to flee to Kovel. We managed to escape on the last train, despite it being under fire, and arrived at our destination after a gruelling 24-hour journey. We decided to stay in Kovel because my mother is originally from here, even though she has been away for a long time.
We like Kovel. The apartment we have is very comfortable and we consider ourselves lucky. Despite living here for two years, we have not yet felt at home. The war robbed us of that sense of belonging, but we hope to reclaim it in this apartment.
The war robbed us of that sense of belonging, but we hope to reclaim it in this apartment.
Mariia
Kateryna
My husband is from Kovel and he has been serving in the army since 2014. I am a native of Mariupol, where we met in 2017, got married, and had a child two years later. Then the full-scale war began.
My child and I left Mariupol on one of the last trains, but my husband, as a serviceman, stayed behind. In early March, we lost contact with him. My daughter and I moved to his parents’ home in Kovel and waited anxiously for any news, praying for a miracle. And indeed, a miracle happened: my husband managed to leave Mariupol by walking 200 km on foot.
My husband loves his home city and has wanted us to move back to Kovel. After escaping, he underwent rehabilitation in Kovel and returned to the frontlines.
I still cannot believe that we finally have something of our own—our own apartment. Until the last moment, I doubted whether it would happen. I was invited to a session at the city council, not knowing what to expect. When they told us we would receive an apartment, it came as a complete surprise. I texted my husband, “We got an apartment,” and he thought I was joking. When I sent him a photo of the documents, he could not believe it either! It is such a joy!
I still cannot believe that we finally have something of our own—our own apartment.
Kateryna
Tetiana
After leaving Bakhmut, my family—my son, grandson, and I—travelled across half of Ukraine before reaching Kovel. At first, we stayed in Dnipro, then moved to its suburbs. However, a terrible thing occurred: an oil depot near us exploded, urging us to relocate once more, this time to Nikopol. Things seemed fine at first, but soon hostilities erupted there as well. It was then that volunteers brought us to Kovel. We have been living here since August 2022. The city is not only beautiful but, more importantly, peaceful. While there are occasional sirens, there is no active conflict. What we endured left my grandson stuttering and almost unable to speak. At first, he was hesitant to playing with local children in Kovel, but he gradually adjusted and regained his confidence.
The conditions in this apartment are outstanding. Previously, we rented a house in poor condition, without any amenities. When I saw this apartment, it took my breath away. Firstly, everything is so beautiful and spacious; there is plenty of natural light. The kitchen is incredibly large that you could practically live in it. Furthermore, everything you need for living is provided, even bedding and dishes. I am speechless!
The conditions in this apartment are outstanding. Previously, we rented a house in poor condition, without any amenities.
Tetiana
Mykola
My family consists of four people: my wife, myself, and our two children. We are from Kherson. When the full-scale war began, we quickly decided that we needed to leave because I could not imagine life under occupation. On 24 February 2022, with Russian troops already in the city, we gathered our documents, took our children, and fled.
Staying with our friends, we gradually moved from south to north until we got to Kovel. We settled here quickly. The children are attending local schools where they have already made new friends. I am working, and my wife serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
I am pleased with the conditions in the apartment—everything is new, bright, and beautiful. I believe that such projects are very important for those who have lost their homes because this is a sign of support and that we are all together.
I believe that such projects are very important for those who have lost their homes because this is a sign of support and that we are all together.
Mykola
“I would like to thank our international partners who believed in our city and chose us as partners, in particular Nefco and the European Union,” shares Ihor Chaika, Mayor of Kovel. “The people who received apartments here lost their homes or were forced to leave them, and it is very important that we could bring them some joy and restore their sense of home. For the city, this project brings about the transformation of old, abandoned buildings into modern spaces, which, I am convinced, will enhance the beauty of Kovel. I hope that the people accommodated here will appreciate the benefits and amenities they have.”
The reconstruction of housing for IDPs in Kovel was implemented under the “EU Support for Urgent Housing Needs for Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine” action, funded by the European Union and managed by Nefco. The initiative aims to provide accommodation in ten cities across western and central Ukraine, including Chernivtsi, Chortkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Kivertsi, Kovel, Lutsk, Rivne, Zolochiv, and Zviahel, for Ukrainian citizens forced to flee their homes due to Russia’s armed aggression.
For further information, please contact:
Ronny Nilsson, Senior Adviser, Nefco
+358 10 618 06 42, ronny.nilsson@nefco.int
Alexey Dumik, Technical Adviser, Nefco
+380 50 352 3383, a.dumik@nefco.org.ua
Tetiana Vekha, Project Administrator, Nefco
+380 67 519 80 34, T.Vekha@nefco.org.ua