In brief
As Russian forces advance, police officer Volodymyr Nikulin embodies the resilience of thousands of Ukrainians forced to flee their homes.
Volodymyr Nikulin, a 53-year-old Ukrainian police lieutenant colonel, showcases the harsh realities of wartime life. With his worldly possessions reduced to a shrapnel-laden car, a small bag of clothes, and basic supplies, he survives in the chaos of eastern Ukraine. Nikulin has been forced to evacuate three different cities due to advancing Russian troops, causing him to leave behind beloved homes and communities. Currently residing in a friend's apartment in Sloviansk, only 15 miles from ongoing combat, he deals with the uncertainty of his ever-changing situation. “It’s my lucky car,” he quips with a thin smile, clinging to the vehicle that has aided his escape on multiple occasions. His journey began in Donetsk in 2014, continuing to Mariupol during the full-scale invasion in 2022, and then to Myrnohrad just this summer. As a police officer, Nikulin has faced many dangers, including assisting journalists in need of escape to document the turmoil in Mariupol. Despite the struggles, he believes in the resilience of Ukrainians. “Who knows where I’ll be in a few months?” he reflects, underlining the shared plight of millions forced from their homes as the war continues to rage.
