During the harrowing years of the Great Patriotic War, countless Soviet families faced the unimaginable grief of losing fathers, sons, and brothers to the frontlines. In many households, not a single male was left standing after the devastation of World War II.
Against this backdrop of profound loss, the story of Evdokia Danilovna Lysenko and her family shines as a remarkable exception. Residing in the small Ukrainian village of Brovakhy, Evdokia had ten sons, each of whom was called to serve on the front. In an extraordinary twist of fate, all ten survived the brutal conflict and made it back home—an outcome that defied the odds in a war that had swallowed millions.
This rare story of resilience and survival remains a powerful reminder of hope amid one of history’s darkest chapters.
The Lysenko Family
The Lysenko family made their home in the peaceful village of Brovakhy, nestled in the heart of what is now Ukraine’s Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi district. Ivan and Olga Lysenko, known for their unwavering strength and commitment to family, raised ten sons: Mikhail, Feodosiy, Pyotr, Ivan, Andrey, Pavel, Vasiliy, Alexander, Nikolay, and Stepan.
From an early age, these brothers were instilled with the values of unity and resilience. Their father, a veteran of the First World War, shared stories of courage and endurance, shaping their perspective on bravery. Meanwhile, their mother fostered a deep compassion and sense of responsibility within each of them, laying a foundation that would see them through the toughest of times.
Before the war, the eldest of the Lysenko brothers, Feodosiy, was 30 years old and worked as a driver. Each of his younger brothers had their own role in the village: Stepan operated tractors, Pavel tended to sheep as a shepherd, Vasiliy was involved in construction, and Alexander, the youngest at only 14, worked in the local forge.
When the Second World War swept across Europe, the Lysenko brothers were called to serve their country. Each was deployed to a different military unit, scattered across various fronts in the brutal conflict that would test their courage and resilience.
The Hero Mother
Evdokia Danilovna waited anxiously for news of her ten sons throughout the war, never knowing if they’d return. Widowed in 1933, she had raised sixteen children, including five daughters, despite hardships under German occupation. Remarkably, each of her sons made it back home, although five returned with severe injuries.
Her great-granddaughter shares a touching memory: “Pavel was the last to arrive. He knocked on the window, and at first, Grandma didn’t recognize him. But when she did, she burst into tears.”
After nearly seven years apart, the family reunited, with weddings and new beginnings bringing joy back into their lives. Evdokia became the beloved matriarch to 36 grandchildren and over 70 great-grandchildren, leaving a powerful legacy of resilience and family unity.
She passed away in 1967, just a month short of her 74th birthday. In 1984, a bronze statue was erected in Brovakhy to honor her legacy, a tribute witnessed by all her sons except Vasiliy, who had passed away before this momentous occasion.
