Nikanor’s family lived in Kharkiv at the beginning of the war. When the invasion began, his father became a local volunteer, striving to help his community. In early March of 2022, he left home to take part in his volunteer activities and never returned. After a long and ultimately unsuccessful search, Nikanor and his mother were forced to flee the city as it had become increasingly dangerous. His father’s body was found a month later – his hands tied and his body full of bullet wounds.

The tragic loss is the second for the family as Nicanor’s older brother had also passed away a few short years before his father’s murder. Currently, Nikanor and his family remain in the western part of Ukraine and are unable to return home as the constant enemy shelling continues to ravage Kharkiv.