In fall of 1939, at the age of 14, she was sent to the orphanage from which she was evacuated when the war began in 1942 via Ladoga Lake.
Në moshën 14-vjeçare, ajo u dërgua në jetimore nga e cila u evakua kur filloi lufta në vitin 1942 nëpërmjet Liqenit Ladoga.