Olga had just come back from work and prepared dinner. She had hardly started her coffee when a rocket struck their house. She immediately took her 16-year-old son, Maksym, by the hand and yelled, “Let’s go to the basement!” But in a moment, they saw that escape was impossible – the entire stairway from the 9th to the 1st floor had collapsed. Overwhelmed by the situation, Olga broke down in tears.

Luckily, at midnight, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine team arrived with a rescue vehicle. They safely evacuated the family from the 5th floor using a large lift. This was how Olga’s birthday began, amidst a situation caused by the Russian army, which was stationed just 15 kilometers away from Toretsk.

This is the second time of Ibliyev’s family has been displaced by the actions of the invading nation. Olga was employed at a café, where she and a colleague crafted lunches. But in 2014, the family had to leave everything behind, fleeing urgently from fierce battles for Donetsk airport, situated nearby. That’s how Olga and her son ended up in Toretsk. Soon, they found out that their house had been severely damaged by the fighting.

At their new place, they had to start life from scratch. Olga found a job as a postal operator at Ukrposhta and rented an apartment. But in February 2022, war intruded into the family’s life again – on a full scale. After their house was shelled, Olga found a new apartment, where she lived with her son for another two months. In December 2023, the family was evacuated to Kostiantynivka. From there, the Save Ukraine team managed to transfer to our “Hope and Healing” center.

For the past month, our team in Kyiv has been supporting the Ibliyev family. We’ve arranged for Olga and Maxim to receive medical check-ups at Okhmatdyt and have provided them with psychological support, as well as essential humanitarian assistance like clothes and necessities. We’ve also helped the family acquire IDP status and secure financial assistance. At present, we are assisting Olga in her job search and helping Maxim get back to his studies.

When Maxim first came to the center, he was very introverted. But after two weeks, he began to venture outside and play in the snow with other children. Gradually, the family is adjusting to their new circumstances. We remain committed to providing them with stability and nurturing their hope for a brighter future.