Denys Piskun is the youngest employee of our Hope and Healing Center in Hatne but one of the best. At the age of 17, he has a complicated history behind him, full of pain and trials. However, Denys managed to persevere and also find his vocation in helping others thanks to strength of spirit and the support of caring people.

Denys comes from Kreminna in the Luhansk Region, a town that was once considered the “green lungs” of the region. However, the Russian occupation turned this picturesque corner into a hell on earth.

The Russians purposefully destroyed the city’s infrastructure. They deliberately poured sewage waste and garbage into the local river, which fed the water supply of Kreminnaya and the surrounding villages. Because of this, the whole city was poisoned with contaminated water. This tragedy most affected Denys’s younger sister, who had a high fever for several weeks.

And the Russian troops placed their equipment right next to the house of the Piskun family. From the windows, they saw how the occupiers were mercilessly burning the Serebriansky forest with artillery. Clouds of caustic smoke hung over the city, making breathing impossible.
Despite fear and despair, the family did not lose faith. They prayed for Ukraine daily, followed news from the front, and rejoiced at every success of our defenders. When they learned about the opening of a pedestrian crossing to the territory controlled by Ukraine, Denys persuaded his relatives to take advantage of this chance.

At checkpoints, the family was interrogated and intimidated by Russian special services. Denys admits he will never forget when they finally saw the dream blue and yellow flag.

Save Ukraine volunteers met the Piskun family in Ukraine and brought them to the Hope and Healing Center in Hatne. Here, Denys finally received the psychological help he needed. He was able to overcome depressing memories and believe in himself again, thanks to the care and support of the team.

And also to find your vocation in helping others. At first, Denys became a volunteer at the Center and later became one of the youngest but most dedicated employees. At the same time, with the support of his colleagues, he passed the exams and entered the faculty of psychology at KNU named after Shevchenko.

Denys is an example of an unbreakable spirit and how faith and kindness can change lives. The war took away his usual life, but he could not break it. Now, the young man considers helping those in need his primary calling.

This comprehensive approach is the core mission of Save Ukraine: not only to save children and their families from the hell of war but also to help them recover physically and mentally and later adapt to a new life. And this is the best investment in our collective future.