Natalia Otyunina is a participant in the 2025 regional competition “Woman of Donetsk Region” in the category “Creator of Change and Opportunities.”
Natalia Otyunina is a representative of the Bakhmut city territorial community. She works in local government in the field of municipal development. She has risen through the ranks from department specialist to head of department.
Due to the escalating security situation in the Bakhmut community, she was forced to evacuate to the city of Dnipro, where she now lives.
When, in 2022, the head of the Bakhmut City Military Administration offered her the position of head of the Dnipro support center for residents of the Bakhmut community, “With Bakhmut in Our Hearts,” Natalia agreed without hesitation to do everything in her power to support her fellow countrymen.
After the occupiers completely destroyed the city, realizing that there would be no quick return to her native Bakhmut, Natalia joined the team of officials of the Bakhmut community and is actively working to arrange housing for IDPs in host communities.
Community activities and participation in the life of the Bakhmut community during the evacuation remain important to her. Natalia considers her daily task to be creating an atmosphere in which the support center for Bakhmut residents is a place of strength, recovery, and faith in life.
Every day, Natalia looks for opportunities to improve the lives of her community. Her story is an example of how, with ambition and perseverance, it is possible to achieve what yesterday seemed impossible.
The detailed story of the contest participant can be found at: https://surl.li/ssrdbw
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