At the beginning of the full-scale war, Mykhailo and his mother, along with his grandmother, found themselves under occupation. To avoid drawing attention, Mykhailo had to attend a Russian school, an experience that proved difficult for him. He felt like an outsider in the new environment, and building relationships with his classmates was a challenge.
The family was fully aware of the risks of living under occupation and made several unsuccessful attempts to escape to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Eventually, on the advice of a neighbour, Mykhailo’s mother reached out to the Ukrainian Network for Children’s Rights for help. Her main request was to safely evacuate Mykhailo to a relative, as she could not leave her bedridden mother, whose health had worsened due to stress and lack of medication.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the specialists, Mykhailo’s evacuation became possible.Today, Mykhailo is safe. For the first time in three years, he was able to hug his beloved aunt, who warmly welcomed him. Mykhailo is now looking forward to returning to school in Ukraine as soon as possible.
For safety reasons, the child’s name has been changed.Every child returned is a step closer to a brighter future, and together, we will continue this journey until all are home.