A mother and her young son have finally returned to Ukraine and reunited with their family, thanks to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative and efforts of the Save Ukraine team. This marks another victory in the mission to bring Ukrainian families back together despite the immense challenges posed by the ongoing war.
When the war broke out, Iryna, Mykola, and their six-month-old son Zakhar were in their home village in southern Ukraine. Mykola joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the early days of the invasion, while Iryna and Zakhar stayed behind. The village was quickly occupied, and with roads becoming increasingly dangerous, Iryna made the difficult decision to remain where she was.Months into his service, Mykola was captured by Russian forces and endured horrific conditions in captivity. He was tortured, beaten, forced to sing the Russian anthem, and denied contact with his family.
Meanwhile, Iryna held on to hope, telling young Zakhar stories of his courageous father defending Ukraine.Eventually, Mykola was released from captivity, but Iryna and Zakhar faced their own challenges in trying to leave the occupied territory. Russian forces repeatedly denied their exit and subjected them to interrogations.
Fortunately, Iryna reached out to Save Ukraine, who helped secure a safe route for her and Zakhar to reunite with Mykola.Now, after years of separation and unimaginable hardship, the family is finally back together. They are beginning the journey of rebuilding their lives, with Zakhar slowly getting to know his father again. The road ahead is long, but they face it as a united family.
P.S. All personal details of the family have been altered for safety reasons.