We continue to share the stories of families who have endured occupation. Today’s story is about Alina, who we helped rescue her two sons, aged 5 and 7, from the temporarily occupied territory.

Shortly before the full-scale invasion, Alina went to a maternity hospital to give birth to her third child, leaving her boys with her parents for a few days. But after February 24, the young mother, with her newborn daughter in her arms, was unable to bring her older children home. She was too afraid to attempt the journey through russian checkpoints with an infant, knowing about the war crimes committed by the russians.

Meanwhile, Matvii and Serhii were constantly hiding in the basement from shelling. “Mom, they’re shooting at us. Soldiers are walking around with guns. Mom, will you be here soon?” they asked over the phone. The boys were terrified by the loud noises and constant explosions, crying frequently because their mother wasn’t there. For young Matvii, the stress worsened an existing condition, and his stutter became even more pronounced.

Alina searched for a way to get her children back. In the meantime, the russians began pressuring the grandparents to register the children with russian documents, threatening to take the boys away if they didn’t attend a russian school. Brave little Matvii would even shout “Glory to Ukraine!” in the faces of russian soldiers. The constant threat of the children being taken away loomed over the family. They had to act immediately.

Alina had no choice but to go to the occupied territory to retrieve her children. At the border, russian forces tried to stop her, accusing her of falsifying documents. It didn’t help that the boys’ father, Alina’s ex-husband, serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Fortunately, the challenging and exhausting “journey” is now behind them. The mother and her sons are finally reunited. There were many tears of joy when they crossed the Ukrainian border and saw the blue and yellow flag. The boys shouted with glee, “Hooray, we’re in Ukraine!” Matvii immediately ran to the Ukrainian soldiers to hug them and say, “Glory to Ukraine!” He even received a patch from the Armed Forces as a gift. That patch, along with a blue-and-yellow drawing that the boys managed to bring from the occupation, they presented to our rescue team.

Many Ukrainian families remain loyal to their country despite the pressure from the occupiers. However, due to various circumstances, some cannot leave the occupied territories, trapped under the constant threat to their lives and freedom. These moments of return — the tears of joy, the hugs from loved ones, and the feeling of freedom on Ukrainian soil — are incredibly precious and unforgettable. They remind us why we are fighting and give us hope that all our people will one day be home again.

P.S. The names of the children have been changed for security reasons.