Another group of Ukrainian children rescued from russian occupation last week!

They are finally safe again — thanks to our Save Ukraine team and the support of all our partners united under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative. These children endured the horrors of war, loss, humiliation, and fear.

15-year-old Maria had resisted the occupiers for most of her life — wearing a traditional vyshyvanka to a russian school, challenging her teachers in class. For that, classmates mocked and beat her, calling her “Ukropka,” while teachers filed reports and threatened her mother with losing parental rights. The only thing that kept Maria going was dance.

The family of 4-year-old Milana and 8-year-old Sasha was repeatedly threatened with losing their children if they refused to enroll them in Russian school. Milana’s mother was forced to obtain Russian documents, her grandmother was interrogated with a lie detector, and it was nearly impossible to find the medication Milana needed for her disability.

17-year-old Semen didn’t wait until adulthood to escape. He fled the occupation to avoid being drafted into the russian army — especially after several of his classmates had already been conscripted. Military officials had shown up at his door, threatening him with fines for ignoring a draft notice — and then with violence.

15-year-old Lina was interrogated for six hours straight for posting a pro-Ukrainian comment on social media. Her phone was confiscated, and she was threatened by the so-called “local police.” Afterwards, she lived in fear of being watched — and of being sent to a russian “summer camp.”

Thankfully, these children and their families are now safe — surrounded by warmth and care at our Hope and Healing center. Every rescued person receives psychological support, temporary housing, humanitarian and food aid, help with legal documents, and real opportunities for a fresh start. This is where people don’t just recover — they come back to life, dream again, and build plans for the future.

Huge thanks to WeAreAllUkrainians and the Joint Center for the Coordination of Search and Rescue for supporting these life-saving missions. Together, we are giving children hope for a brighter future in a free country.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.