Save Ukraine team successfully rescued and returned 10 Ukrainian children, who found themselves under occupation after February 24th, to Ukraine. After a long separation, these children were finally able to embrace their loved ones, and now, all families are safe.

One story is of Alina, who stayed at home with her father after her mother, Maryna, was deported by the Russians. She was forced to attend a Russian school, sing the Russian anthem, and wear a uniform. Any refusal to comply could lead to lower grades. Although Alina refused to draw and write letters to Russian soldiers, claiming she couldn’t draw and didn’t know Russian, she couldn’t avoid watching films glorifying the Russian language. It’s especially cruel for children to write letters to soldiers who are harming their families and to praise a country that has disrupted their peaceful lives.

Alexey, whose father died of a heart condition during the occupation, recalls how quickly all Ukrainian books in his school were replaced with Russian ones. Once, his classmates hung a Ukrainian flag in the classroom, but the teacher quickly removed it. They also had no choice but to write letters to Russian soldiers.

Orest, 13, and Melania, 11, were separated from their parents after the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated the Right Bank. Their parents had taken them to their grandparents on the Left Bank, far from the conflict zone, leading to a 1.5-year separation. During this time, both Melania and her mother, Oksana, experienced worsening hearing due to constant stress. The siblings longed to hug their mother and return home but sometimes doubted that moment would ever come.

Little Lana was born during the occupation. Her mother, Tamila, was pregnant when the full-scale invasion began. It was extremely difficult to survive the first few months due to the scarcity of food and medicine. Tamila had hoped to give birth in a free Ukraine, but instead, they had to pass through numerous Russian checkpoints to reach the maternity hospital. They narrowly negotiated with the soldiers to be let through. Lana was born amid explosions, and fortunately, they avoided needing shelter. They were discharged home just four hours after birth without any vaccinations for the baby.

Every time we are approached for help, we understand all the risks and dangers for the children under the occupier’s rule. Our children are deprived of their rights and a normal, happy childhood. Therefore, we act immediately without delay. As of today, our organization has rescued 261 children from Russia and the occupied territories.

P.S. For safety reasons, all names have been changed.