“I supported Ukraine. They wanted to beat me,” says Oleh, recalling the Russian school where he was bullied every day for loving his homeland. He’s 9. Three years ago, he ended up under occupation. And like thousands of other children, he became a hostage of propaganda.

Before the war, Oleh lived in eastern Ukraine with his big family. But on February 24, 2022, everything changed. “It was terrifying. Helicopters flew so low, we thought they’d blow the roof off,” recalls his mother Tetiana.

Later, the family — like many others — was offered a place in a “recovery camp” in Russia. The promised 20 days turned into three months of forced deportation.

His parents couldn’t wait any longer to get their son back. Taking a huge risk, they drove into Russia in a car with Ukrainian license plates to pick him up themselves. But there was no way back.

The family had to stay in Russia and enroll Oleh in a local school. But instead of safety, the boy faced bullying and abuse — from classmates and teachers — just because he was Ukrainian. He was forced to sing the Russian anthem, hold portraits of Russian soldiers, and constantly hear that Ukraine was weak. “They told me I was worthless. That Ukraine was bad. But I still believed in it,” Oleh says.

Their home in Ukraine was destroyed by shelling. But the desire to return home was stronger than fear. Thanks to volunteers, the family managed to escape the enemy state. Now they are safe, and Oleh can finally speak Ukrainian without fear. He smiles and says, “It’s better here. There’s less trash than in Russia. And I want Ukraine to win.”

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