“…she loved Ukraine above all else!”
Rotarians of Ukraine are in deep mourning—the incredibly sincere and kind Lesya Djadan has suddenly passed away. A beauty, a talented journalist, a volunteer, a loving mother of three, and a beloved wife… She served heroically as President of the Rotary Club Kyiv-Capital during the “war period” from February 2022 to June 2023.
Lesya’s story with Rotary began five years ago. The always-active and caring journalist was invited to the capital’s Club by Lyudmyla Olkhovska, head of the Ukrainian Journalists’ Fund. In July 2022 Lesya was to become Club President, but in February the war broke out and the sitting President, Ruslan Kraplych, immediately joined the Territorial Defense, so Lesya took up the presidential duties. “Was I nervous? Yes, of course. Fear is normal. The main thing is to pull yourself together in time and decide: either we give in to that fear, or we overcome it and do everything we can for the good of our people, our country,” she once recalled in an interview.
The war found Lesya and her family in Kyiv, with three small children in her arms. She faced the choice: stay in Ukraine to carry out her honorable mission or go abroad for the children’s safety. Her husband, Andrii, offered various options but supported her decision to remain in the country, and despite his own commitments, worked side by side with her…
Only for a short time did Lesya travel with her three little ones to western Ukraine; after returning to Kyiv she launched extensive volunteer work. She had no prior experience in team-building or writing grant applications to secure international funding for projects, but she learned through months of difficult, sometimes exhausting work—fighting both personal burnout and her team’s. She also learned to withstand the wave of negativity that volunteers often face.
She shouldered a tremendous workload and each day crossed off completed tasks—only to add more by evening.
She worried in secret, yet she continued her work… Convinced that every effort, every project is important and demands nonstop dedication, she stayed constantly available—writing, negotiating, and delivering aid to those who needed it.
Even when a devastating diagnosis came, she did not slow down. Only her closest friends knew of her illness, yet she remained smiling and kind, doing good for others…
My phone holds nearly daily messages from Lesya—her concerns, advice, plans, and always her humor and optimism. Reading them now, it feels as if I am speaking with you again, dear Lesya… Her last words to me: “How can I help you, my little star?” I asked. “Tell me you’re okay, and I will feel better,” she replied—touchingly vulnerable and yet incredibly strong.
The pain tears at my soul… Words fail me…
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, loved ones, and everyone who knew and cherished Lesya Djadan in this unbearably difficult loss.
Eternal memory to a dear, sincere, and generous soul with a big, kind heart…
We will miss you dearly, Lesya… Larisa Koba and Rotarians of Ukraine
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