Vitalina was 15 when her life split into “before” and “after.” Her hometown was burning under constant shelling; her family slept in schools and temporary tents in open fields, and eventually — along with many others — ended up in Russia. Simply to survive.

In a Russian city, she finished 11th grade and was forced to study under the Russian curriculum: “conversations about important things,” Russian history instead of Ukrainian history, and constant disdain from teachers. One boy in her class would sneer repeatedly: “Because of people like you, we have to use a VPN now.”
Vitalina tried to endure it — she studied, worked, and even managed to enroll in a local university. But the daily pressure, humiliation, and propaganda wore her down.

One day, she came across an interview with children who had been rescued by Save Ukraine. And in that moment, she realized that escape was possible — that there was a way out of the trap. Quietly, she gathered her documents and set off, crossing borders under the pretext of “going on vacation.” Her parents were afraid and did not support her decision, but she knew one thing: she needed her freedom.

Today, 19-year-old Vitalina is back in Ukraine. She is thinking about her education, looking for a city to build her future in, and — for the first time in years — finally feels something simple and precious: peace. She is reclaiming the dreams that had been suppressed for so long by fear and propaganda.

Thanks to the support of Malteser International, we were able to help Vitalina escape the Russian trap and begin a new life. We are deeply grateful to our partners Aktion Deutschland Hilft and Malteser International for their ongoing support. Because of you, more and more children are finding their way back home to safety and care.

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