Occupation: Physical Therapist

Country of Birth: Ukraine (Druzhkivka, Donetsk region)

Current: Jacksonville, FL

“We were preparing for our graduation party. Many of my classmates, especially the girls, had fancy dresses and shoes, but they never got to wear them. Soldiers came and declared that after 6pm, no one could be outside. From that moment, my life changed forever.”

Born on March 5, 1997, Ninel Nosachova grew up in a close-knit family in Druzhkivka, Ukraine, surrounded by joy, faith in Jesus Christ, and a deep appreciation for freedom. Her grandfather’s unwavering stand for his Christian beliefs during Soviet oppression shaped her understanding of resilience and the power of faith.

In 2014, conflict in Ukraine forced her family to flee to Lviv. There, the kindness of strangers and a strong church community offered a beacon of hope and inspired her passion for helping others. In Kyiv, she pursued physical therapy and volunteered as a doctor’s assistant in Africa and Nepal. 

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 uprooted her again, and Ninel boarded a bus with her sisters to Germany. In July 2023, Ninel joined the Protez Foundation in Minnesota, supporting Ukrainian soldiers who had lost limbs. Living with American hosts Jeanna and Joe Hinderer, Ninel was provided with a comfortable room and friendship. From small acts like making coffee to assisting with prosthetics, Ninel grew confident and deeply connected to her mission.

Ninel now resides in Florida with her husband and remains committed to her mission of service. She dreams of helping children understand the value of freedom and plans to return to Ukraine to share her skills with those rebuilding their lives. Guided by faith, she carries forward her family’s legacy of resilience and compassion.