The Save Ukraine team managed to save five children, including three orphans, from the Russian occupation. This 17th mission is going particularly hard because we are dealing with a country that is trying in every possible way to terrorize Ukrainians.

Almost from the first days of the full-scale war, Svitlana and her two youngest children lived in the occupation. Marynka was an excellent pupil, played volleyball, and went to competitions. After February 24, the daughter had to hide at home and study remotely. The younger Artemko was only three years old then. The occupation authorities constantly reminded Svitlana that children should go to Russian educational institutions. But how could parents do it? When they were not allowed to enter the school premises. There was a military guard at the entrance, and on Putin’s birthday, children had to write down greetings for him.

Sergiy, who was an orphan even before the war and grew up in a foster family, had to study in two schools at once during the occupation: Ukrainian and Russian. However, studying in a Russian school differed much from the usual educational process. Tenth-graders had to sit alone in classes without teachers. So they played cards in order not to get bored. Even the Russian military was surprised by the absence of teachers in class. Then, one of the soldiers, who looked like a Chechen, began to tell the children a History of the World himself. For almost two weeks, the soldier taught the children. After graduating from school, Sergiy entered a college in the nearest city. Once, a teacher came to their classroom and offered to join the Youth Army. He said that there is nothing complicated. You would weave nets for the military in the beginning. And then the Russians offered to serve on a contract — they paid 240 thousand rubles and promised an apartment. After 20 years of service — a pension. However, Sergiy could not stay there for long, so he made a decision to leave the occupation. On the first attempt, he managed to get to Belgorod, but was detained and sent to the basement. They tried to persuade him to stay in the occupation and dig trenches.

Life for Tamila and her family during the occupation was full of fear and danger. In their home village, people were afraid to be even in their homes because occupiers could break into the house in the middle of the night, breaking down the doors. But the woman was most afraid for her children: son Taras, who has health problems, and minor adopted daughter Ksenia. She was so afraid that a 16-year-old girl might be taken away and something done to her. They tried to leave the occupation four times. They took money every time, but no one came.

Fortunately, everything is over for these children. They are now safe and want to live in Ukraine. And the Save Ukraine team continues its crucial mission to rescue Ukrainian children. Today, we have already returned 282 children to Ukraine, 72 of whom are orphans. We thank our powerful partners WeAreAllUkrainians for their strong support and assistance to implement this humanitarian mission.