Bringing Hope and Healing to War-Affected Children

Olena’s Story

Olena from Kharkiv faced significant challenges even before the full-scale war began. First, her youngest daughter was diagnosed with a genetic disorder. Then, she lost loved ones to COVID-19, and later, she suffered a stroke that left her wheelchair-bound.

Despite these hardships, Olena remained determined. She courageously underwent rehabilitation and received all available treatment in Kharkiv, striving to walk again. But her progress was interrupted by the sudden onset of war.

Relentless missile strikes filled her heart with fear; she physically couldn’t get to the basement for safety. Her biggest worry was for her two daughters, five-year-old Emily and eleven-year-old Stephanie. The family fled to the outskirts of the city, struggling to make ends meet. Olena’s husband lost his job, leaving them with just enough money for food.

Eventually, they returned to Kharkiv. Both Olena and her husband resumed work. Although many skilled doctors had left the city, she managed to continue basic treatment. Yet, the attacks persisted: daily shelling, destruction, and loss of life. Each journey to the hospital left Olena wondering if she’d make it back to her children.

However, there are kind-hearted people in this world. A friend of Olena’s shared her story with Save Ukraine’s volunteers, who quickly offered their help. Olena welcomed the support, knowing that she had to put her children’s safety above her reluctance to leave her home.

Through the Medevac project, Save Ukraine’s team evacuated Olena and her children in special transport with medical support to a new modular house at Hope and Healing Center in Hatne. This accommodation was designed specifically for people with disabilities and had all the facilities needed for Olena’s comfortable living.

Specialists are now assisting with Olena’s rehabilitation and treating her youngest daughter, Emily.

Olena hopes that soon she will be able to return to a normal life, help her daughter heal, and watch her family accompany Emily to her first day of school.

Such stories are possible thanks to the generosity of Save Ukraine’s sponsors and partners.

Olha’s Story

Olha had just returned home from work and was about to enjoy a cup of coffee when a missile struck her apartment. In a moment of panic, she grabbed her 16-year-old son, Maksym, and screamed, “Run to the basement!” But they soon realized there was nowhere to run — the entire stairwell from the ninth to the first floor had collapsed. Overwhelmed by the situation, Olha couldn’t hold back her tears.

Fortunately, at midnight, a rescue vehicle from the Emergency Services arrived and safely lowered the family from the fifth floor using a large lift. This marked the start of Olha’s birthday, overshadowed by the presence of the Russian army just 15 kilometers from Toretsk.

This was not the first time the aggressor country had forced the Ibliev family from their home. Ten years earlier, they lived peacefully in the village of Spartak in their two-story house. Back then, Olha worked at a cafe with a friend, preparing set lunches. But in 2014, they had to flee abruptly due to fierce fighting near the Donetsk airport, which was alarmingly close. Olha and her son found refuge with acquaintances in Toretsk, only to learn later that their home had been severely damaged in the combat.

Starting anew in Toretsk, Olha took a job as a postal service operator at Ukrposhta and rented an apartment. However, in February 2022, their lives were disrupted once again by full-scale war. After their building was shelled, Olha found another apartment, where she lived with her son for another two months. By December 2023, the family was evacuated to Kostiantynivka, from where the Save Ukraine team took them to their Hope and Healing Center.

For about a month now, Save Ukraine has been taking care of the Ibliev family in Kyiv. Their specialists helped Olha and Maksym undergo medical examinations at Ohmatdyt, provided psychological and humanitarian support, including clothing and other necessities. They assisted the family in obtaining internally displaced person (IDP) status and financial aid. Currently, they are helping Olha find employment and facilitating Maksym’s return to his studies.

Upon arrival at the center, Maksym was quite introverted. However, after two weeks, he finally went outside to play in the snow with other children. Gradually, the family is adjusting to their new reality, and Save Ukraine continues to work towards bringing stability and hope back into their lives.

Olha’s story is a testament to the impact of your support. By donating to Save Ukraine, you enable us to reach more families in need, helping them find comfort, stability, and the promise of a better future.

Iryna’s Story

The Kostenko* family, like many of their fellow citizens from southern Ukraine, lived off their land. They ran a farm where they grew a variety of vegetables and fruits, working tirelessly with their three children.

However, the Russian occupation shattered all their plans and hopes. In the early days of the full-scale invasion, fear was rampant, but the fieldwork continued. Despite their anxiety, they held on and kept working.

But as time passed, things grew more challenging. Russian soldiers began raiding homes, searching for money and valuables, confiscating food, and even stealing livestock. The most frightening threat was that if the children didn’t attend school under the Russian curriculum, they would be taken away and sent to an orphanage in northern Russia.

This worried Maryana*, especially for her eldest son, Arthur*, who was in his final year of high school. He could be forced into a cadet school and made to fight against Ukraine.

The shelling, raids, and threats became more frequent, making life unbearable. Maryana’s husband ordered her to gather the children and leave for a safer place.

The journey out of the occupied territory was arduous. The family had to endure interrogations by the FSB, mistreatment, and threats from Russian soldiers, which were particularly traumatizing for their youngest daughter, Milana*.

Frightened, exhausted, and hungry, the children suffered through every level of Russian cruelty. It was no surprise that when they saw the blue-and-yellow flag at the border, all four of them cried with joy.

Initially, they planned to stay with friends, but in the filtration camp, one of Save Ukraine’s coordinators suggested they go to the Hope and Healing Center in Hatne.

Maryana agreed without hesitation. At the center, the family received everything they needed. They were helped to arrange financial aid and renew their documents. The children underwent medical examinations and received necessary treatments.

The middle son, Matviy*, had a scheduled surgery. A psychologist worked with each child, helping them overcome their fears and anxieties from their ordeal. The children eagerly participated in all the activities at the center, and Maryana holds on to the hope of returning home, to be reunited with her loved ones and friends on their land.

* – For safety reasons, the names of the characters have been changed.

Support for families like the Kostenkos is made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors and partners of Save Ukraine. Your contributions ensure that families displaced by war have the resources and support they need to rebuild their lives and restore their hopes for the future.

Lyudmyla’s Story

The story of Lyudmyla and her young granddaughter, Nastia, has touched the hearts of many Save Ukraine supporters. It all began when our team reunited their family and evacuated them from a dangerous area. Today, we want to share the continuation of their story, but first, let’s recall the circumstances that led Lyudmyla and Nastia to come under our care at the Hope and Healing Center.

When the full-scale war broke out, the Kotlyarov-Klipachov family was scattered across different parts of Donetsk. Lyudmyla’s eldest daughter and 1.5-year-old Nastia were in the village of Zvanivka, while her younger daughter, Tetiana, was sent to Rai-Oleksandrivka to keep her away from the shelling. Lyudmyla herself stayed in Siversk. Despite the separation, the three always kept in touch and did their best to survive.

However, on September 25, 2023, tragedy struck — the Russian army shelled the area near the home where little Nastia lived, killing her mother. The young woman had just stepped out of the courtyard when the sudden artillery fire began.

The news of her daughter’s sudden death hit Lyudmyla hard, but she gathered all her strength and set off to rescue her granddaughter. In Kramatorsk, where Nastia was undergoing a medical examination, our team from Luhansk Region was able to reunite the rest of the family with the child. From there, they were evacuated to Dnipro, and then Lyudmyla, with her granddaughter and younger daughter, took a train to Kyiv.

At the Kyiv train station, our evacuation coordinator met them and brought the family to the Hope and Healing Center in Hatne. The entire Save Ukraine team understood that this family needed more than just basic assistance with documents and food — they needed specialized support from professional psychologists and a supportive community. We made every effort to help Lyudmyla navigate this difficult time, knowing that she would now be both a grandmother and a mother to little Nastia.

The center’s team continues to support the family as they recover emotionally and adapt to life in a big city. We can’t be sure that time heals all wounds, but we know that care and human compassion can help speed up the healing process.

It’s the generous contributions of Save Ukraine’s sponsors and partners that make stories like those of Lyudmyla and Nastia possible. Thanks to your support, families can access the resources they need to start their journey toward recovery and rebuild their lives.