Olena Shpytsia (33)
From bookkeeper to deminer
There is never a shortage of conversation topics around the Shpytsia family’s kitchen table. Partly because Olena and Victor love talking to each other, and partly because they share the same passion: clearing Ukraine’s land of mines and explosive remnants of war so that it can be safe again.
“As parents, we dream of our children being able to go for walks, go on outings, visit the forest, and enjoy picnics, knowing that it is safe for them. That is probably our greatest motivation for working as deminers,” explains 33-year-old Olena.
It was Victor who first noticed Olena 12 years ago. Her photo kept appearing as a recommended friend on Facebook, and he thought she looked wonderful. After a few months, he finally worked up the courage to send her a message. It took some time before she replied, but when they eventually met, they immediately clicked.
“I could tell right away that he was a good man and that we belonged together,” she says.
The first years were happy ones. Olena and Victor got married and had a child. She worked as a bookkeeper in a company, while he was a department manager for the local municipality. But Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 dramatically changed their daily lives.
“Fear entered our lives – it was not there before,” says Olena.
“Demining sounded both exciting and meaningful, and I wanted to try it too.”
“A constant sense of worry, fear, and anxiety has entered our lives, and it was not there before. Especially when it comes to our children’s safety,” says Olena.
Victor found work as a deminer while Olena was on maternity leave. Every evening, he came home enthusiastically talking about his work. It sounded so exciting and meaningful that she wanted to try it herself. Victor immediately supported the idea.
“We know someone who stepped on a roadside mine while walking in the forest and lost a leg. Things like that happen regularly here in Ukraine. It’s terrible.”
Today, they both work for DanChurchAid. As a married couple, they are not allowed to serve on the same team. Even so, they are both deeply committed to the work, and they understand each other’s daily challenges better than ever before. They also get to travel to and from work together, which means a great deal to both of them.
“The more time we have together, the better,” Olena says with a smile.
