At 77, She Walked 9 Miles Under Drone-Filled Skies to Escape From ‘Hell’

The woman, whose name has not been disclosed for safety reasons, made the perilous trek under the constant threat of aerial surveillance and attack. According to reports, rescue crews no longer operate inside Lyman because the risk is too great. The only escape route left for civilians is a terrifying journey on foot, navigating open terrain where drones can strike at any moment.

Lyman, a city in Donetsk Oblast, has been a focal point of intense fighting since Russian forces captured it in spring 2022 and later lost it to a Ukrainian counteroffensive later that year. In recent months, the area has again come under heavy assault. The presence of drones—both reconnaissance and attack—makes any movement above ground extremely hazardous. Civilians attempting to flee must travel through fields and forest paths, often at night, while Russian drones patrol overhead.

The NYT report highlights the broader humanitarian crisis: as fighting intensifies, the number of safe evacuation corridors shrinks. Organizations that once helped evacuate the elderly and infirm are now unable to reach them. The woman’s journey of nine miles may represent an increasingly common pattern: desperate civilians taking extreme risks rather than remaining in areas without water, electricity, or medical care.

International monitors have documented dozens of similar cases in recent weeks. The United Nations has reported that civilian casualties in Ukraine remain high, with many deaths occurring during attempts to flee active combat zones. The Ukrainian government has urged residents of front-line towns to evacuate while routes are still open, but for many, the choice is between staying in a besieged city and walking through a war zone.

This story is a single example amid a sea of suffering. It illustrates the human cost of a conflict that has now stretched into its second year. For the 77-year-old woman, reaching safety meant walking nine miles under drone-filled skies—a journey that for many would be unthinkable, but for her was the only way out of hell.

Why This Matters

The evacuation crisis in Lyman exposes the collapse of humanitarian access in occupied and contested areas of Ukraine, directly endangering thousands of elderly and vulnerable civilians.
Drone surveillance and strikes make traditional evacuation efforts impossible, forcing civilians to choose between staying in a war zone or making a dangerous solo journey.
This pattern could extend to other front-line towns as Russia continues its offensive in eastern Ukraine, further straining already limited humanitarian operations.

Background

Lyman was a key logistics hub before the war and became a major battleground in 2022. Russian forces captured it in May 2022, but Ukraine retook it in October 2022 after a swift counteroffensive. Since early 2025, Russian forces have launched renewed attacks on the city, and by mid-2026, they have largely encircled it. Rescue teams operated in the area until recently, but as drone activity intensified and shelling became constant, they deemed it impossible to enter without unacceptable risk. Civilians have been left largely to fend for themselves. The NYT report is one of the first detailed accounts of the situation on the ground.

Key Perspectives

Civilians in Lyman: They face an impossible choice: stay in a city without basic services and under constant bombardment, or attempt a nine-mile walk through open terrain under drone surveillance. The elderly are the most vulnerable. Ukrainian authorities: They acknowledge that evacuations from Lyman are nearly impossible. They urge civilians to leave while corridors exist, but those corridors are shrinking. They blame Russian tactics of targeting rescue routes. International humanitarian organizations: They have limited access due to security concerns and Russian refusal to guarantee safe passage. They call for renewed ceasefires to allow evacuations, but such agreements have repeatedly collapsed.

What to Watch

The number of civilian escapees from Lyman in the coming weeks—if survivors continue to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory, it will signal that some routes remain viable.
Statements from the UN or Red Cross about the feasibility of humanitarian corridors in the Lyman area.
Changes in Russian drone tactics: increased use of loitering munitions could make even nighttime escapes impossible.
Any reports of similar mass evacuations on foot from other besieged eastern Ukrainian towns, such as Chasiv Yar or Toretsk.

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