Neighbors from hell — How one Oleshky family survived living next to Russian soldiers

The Samarsky family endured years of hardship living in Oleshky, a town occupied by Russian soldiers following the Russian invasion in 2022. Serhii Samarsky, his wife Olha Liutikova, and their son Vladyslav remained in the town until October 2026, when they were evacuated through a humanitarian mission facilitated by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.

The family had to survive relentless air attacks, severe cold winters without heating or electricity, and extreme food shortages while living in an apartment building filled with Russian soldiers.

Their difficult existence was made even more dangerous by the constant threat of drone strikes launched directly from their building. Russian soldiers frequently interrogated them, holding Serhii and Olha in a basement for three days. The family's parents, who had passed away from cancer and a stroke, respectively, left Olha and Vladyslav to care for their elderly father, who had suffered a stroke.

Despite the risks, the Samarsky family never expected their hometown to be occupied for years. Before the occupation, the town was a pleasant place with a close-knit community and a nearby river and forest. They used to gather together for holidays and special occasions, with Olha often playing the violin. However, after the occupation, Russian soldiers forcibly removed children from the Oleshky Specialized Boarding School, where Olha worked caring for children with disabilities.

In June 2023, the humanitarian situation worsened after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed by Russian troops, causing severe flooding in Oleshky. Many residents lost their homes and important documents in the disaster. The Samarsky family, now holding cups of warm tea and Ukrainian flags at the Belarus-Ukraine border, described their time in Oleshky as a "miracle" that they were allowed to leave.