6-year-old Artem and his mother Olena experienced hell during the occupation of their native Kherson region. The boy was going to go to the first grade in the fall. He was happy that he would soon become a pupil. But instead, the child almost became an orphan.

The mother Olena managed to avoid death twice. Once, she was under the gun of a Russian soldier with a friend when she was returning home in the evening. Another time, debris from the explosion of an enemy drone landed within a millimeter of her face.

Later, the woman had to experience the forced acquisition of a Russian passport. They came home and said: “We strongly recommend not to delay. You have a small child.”

Little Artem suffered the most from the occupation. The boy experienced severe stress and was afraid of any sharp sounds. He constantly looked at the sky, looking for enemy drones, and asked his mother: “Isn’t that a drone shooting?” As a result of the experience, the child’s vision deteriorated. Artem was afraid to go outside and often hid at home. Therefore, it was not possible to communicate with peers.

Fortunately, thanks to the help of the Save Ukraine team, Artem and Olena were able to evacuate from the occupied territory. They are safe now. But there is still a long road ahead of them to recover and overcome the traumatic experience. This family is one of the hundreds that Save Ukraine supports, helping them return to regular life.

—
We continue to support this family, as hundreds of other affected families, giving them hope and support. Please join us! Share this video so that as many people as possible get to know these stories.