“It was hard to watch how the enemy started setting their own rules and order in our home.”

This is Ivan. He’s 16. And he knows very well what it’s like to live under occupation.

From the first days of the full-scale invasion, his hometown fell under Russian control. His family wasn’t openly targeted, but they were systematically intimidated — searches were carried out. Ivan heard many stories of people disappearing, of Russian soldiers moving into Ukrainian homes, and of mortars being placed on rooftops.

One day, a Russian soldier approached Ivan’s mother, asking how old her son was, whether he was registered anywhere, and if he had visited the military enlistment office. Ivan feared being punished for his pro-Ukrainian stance.

The situation worsened when his grandfather fell seriously ill. He urgently needed medical help. To safely pass through checkpoints, the family had to get Russian documents — something they had previously avoided at all costs. But even that didn’t guarantee a smooth trip: at every check, soldiers asked about Ivan and hinted that he should go to a Russian school after ninth grade.

Each day of occupation became harder. Ivan started actively looking for a way out. He reached out to some contacts, who gave him information about Save Ukraine. And after three years under occupation, Ivan finally saw the Ukrainian flag and heard his native language again. But most importantly — he finally got a chance at a happy future.

📢 Share this video with your friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. The world needs to know what Ukrainian children are going through under Russian occupation. The more people hear — the more chances every child has to be saved.