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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the @helpingtoleave team made it possible to return Albina* and Viacheslav* to Ukrainian-controlled territory. ▪️ Albina lived in the temporarily occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region and wanted to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory. She planned the route on her own and reached the Mokrany–Domanove checkpoint, but was unable to cross the border because she did not have a Ukrainian passport. Albina then contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. The team advised her on the necessary documents and helped coordinate the next steps of her journey. In Minsk, she obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine and was able to continue on her way. Today, Albina is already in Ukrainian-controlled territory and is staying with her relatives. ▪️ Viacheslav learned about Helping to Leave from an acquaintance whom the team had previously helped leave the temporarily occupied territory. He also reached out for assistance, and the Helping to Leave team helped coordinate his route and supported him throughout the journey. Along the way, Viacheslav also helped his friend by bringing her two cats with him. After reaching Ukrainian-controlled territory, he was met by the Helping to Leave team, who also helped arrange temporary accommodation. Viacheslav is now restoring his documents and planning his future in Ukraine. And both cats are back with their owner. We thank the Joint Center for Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War for its assistance and cooperation in the return of children. *All names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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Since 2022, the non-profit Helping to Leave has received thousands of requests to rescue people from Russian-occupied territories. Some of those requests were to rescue women who may have never existed at all. ⠀ The charity has helped thousands of people flee occupied areas, and its team was used to urgent pleas for evacuation. But over time, a different kind of request began arriving. ⠀ Foreign men started writing to Helping to Leave asking to rescue Ukrainian women they had met online, women they believed were trapped in Russian-occupied territories. ⠀ Some asked the charity to arrange an evacuation. Others had already sent money, believing they were paying for the woman’s escape and that they would finally meet once she reached safety. They never did. ⠀ Over the past four years, the non-profit says it has received around 200 such requests, which now arrive up to four times a week, according to Nataliia, the project’s communications specialist, who asked to be identified only by her first name due to the sensitive nature of her work with people in Russian-occupied territories. ⠀ Ukrainian and international media have long documented romance scams in which foreign men send money or travel to Ukraine to meet women who turn out to be fake. But the war has given scammers a new way to exploit the sympathy of unsuspecting foreigners. ⠀ Read the full investigation at the link in bio. ⠀ Illustration: Daria Filippova / The Kyiv Independent; Photo: Courtesy of Stefan; Courtesy of Helping to Leave.
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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the @helpingtoleave team made it possible to return two more teenagers — Uliana* and Iryna* — to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Uliana lived in the temporarily occupied part of the Donetsk region and wanted to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory. She contacted Helping to Leave for assistance with organizing her return. The team helped prepare a safe route and supported Uliana throughout the journey. Along the way, she met another girl who was also returning to Ukraine. They decided to continue the journey together and successfully crossed the border. Today, Uliana is already in Ukrainian-controlled territory and is planning her future here. Iryna lived in the Zaporizhzhia region with her grandmother. They decided to leave the temporarily occupied territory, but while crossing the humanitarian corridor, Iryna was not allowed through because she did not have a Ukrainian passport. She then contacted Helping to Leave for assistance with obtaining the necessary documents. Together with her grandmother, Iryna returned to Minsk, where she received a certificate for return to Ukraine and was then able to successfully cross the border. Iryna is now in Ukrainian-controlled territory. She is restoring her documents and planning her next steps at home. We thank the Joint Center for Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War, Persons Illegally Deprived of Liberty as a Result of Aggression against Ukraine, for its assistance and cooperation in the return of children. *All names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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Last week, the @saveukraine.official team rescued 33 children and teenagers from Russian occupation. This became possible thanks to the support of partners within the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative. Each of them endured constant pressure, threats, and fear, but today that is finally behind them. Among those rescued: 🔹 16-year-old Illia, who survived an armed attack by Russian soldiers in his own home. He was forced to attend an occupation-controlled school, where teachers called the military police over even minor signs of dissent. Russian soldiers regularly came to classes, teaching children how to handle weapons and operate combat drones. 🔹 17-year-old Oleksii, who was forced to attend an occupation-controlled school under threat. There, teenagers were encouraged to become drone operators, and Oleksii was later forcibly placed on the military register. His family also endured repeated armed searches, during which Russian soldiers intimidated civilians. 🔹 8-year-old Dina, whose family was threatened with having her taken to an orphanage if she did not attend a Russian school. There, children were drawn into propaganda activities, including being forced to make drawings for Russian soldiers. Dina also lived in constant fear due to armed searches of her home and drone attacks targeting civilians. For these children and 30 others, occupation is now behind them. They are currently undergoing reintegration at Hope and Healing Centers, where they receive psychological support, assistance with documents, safe shelter, and the care they need for a new beginning. Yet hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian children remain under Russian control. The occupation authorities continue to intensify pressure, attempt to erase children’s Ukrainian identity, and prepare teenagers for service in the Russian military. We sincerely thank our partners, Tatjana Kiel, We Are All Ukrainians, @helpingtoleave, and the Joint Center for Search and Release for their support and cooperation. We will continue our work until every Ukrainian child is returned home. #BringKidsBack
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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the @helpingtoleave team made it possible to return five more children and young people to Ukrainian-controlled territory. ▪️ Maksym* is from the Donetsk region. For the past few years, he studied at a university before deciding to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory. The Helping to Leave team helped Maksym plan a route and arranged accommodation along the way. In Minsk, he obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine and was able to continue his journey home. Maksym is now in Ukrainian-controlled territory and lives with relatives. He plans to restore his documents and look for a job. ▪️ Kostiantyn* lived in the Donetsk region but moved to Russia with his parents before the start of the full-scale invasion. Wanting to return to Ukraine, he contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. At the Ukrainian Embassy in Minsk, Kostiantyn obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine and was able to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory. Here, he received support with accommodation and began restoring his documents. ▪️ Last year, a family from the Kherson region — a mother, two daughters, and a son — also contacted Helping to Leave. They planned to leave the temporarily occupied territory, but preparations for the journey took longer than expected. During that time, rules for leaving Russia changed, so the family had to wait several more months to obtain the necessary documents. The Helping to Leave team helped plan the route and supported the family throughout the entire journey, which lasted more than two weeks. Today, the family is already in Ukrainian-controlled territory and is preparing to move to Europe, where the children’s father is waiting for them. Every return is a chance to continue education, restore documents, reunite with loved ones, and build a future in Ukraine. We thank the Joint Center for Coordination of the Search and Release of Prisoners of War, Persons Illegally Deprived of Liberty as a Result of Aggression against Ukraine, for its assistance and cooperation in the return of children. *Names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the @helping.to.leave team made it possible to return Olha*, Yuliia*, and Vasyl* to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Olha is from a part of the Donetsk region that has been under Russian occupation since 2014. She contacted Helping to Leave to learn whether it was possible to leave and to receive assistance with returning to Ukraine. With the support of the Coordination Headquarters, Olha obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine and was able to leave the occupied territory. Today, she is already in Ukrainian-controlled territory. Yuliia and Vasyl are a young couple from the Donetsk region. For several years, they had been planning together how to leave the temporarily occupied territory and eventually contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. The team helped organize their route and supported them throughout the journey. Due to their age, Yuliia and Vasyl did not have Ukrainian passports, so with the support of the Coordination Headquarters, they obtained certificates for return to Ukraine. Today, Yuliia and Vasyl are already in Kyiv, where they are planning their future together and beginning a new chapter of their lives at home. We thank the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War for facilitating their return. *Names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the @helpingtoleave team made it possible to return Yurii* and Ilona* to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Yurii is from the Kherson region. This summer, he received his secondary education certificate and decided to leave the temporarily occupied territory to continue his education in Ukraine. He contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. The team helped prepare a safe route and found a temporary care family in the Volyn region who will provide him with the necessary support, including assistance with education and documents. Today, Yurii is already in Ukrainian-controlled territory. He plans to continue his studies and train as a welder. Ilona is from the Donetsk region. She completed nine years of school and enrolled at a college but was unable to finish her studies after being taken to Russia. Later, she decided to return to Ukraine and contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. With the support of the Coordination Headquarters, Ilona obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine and was able to successfully leave Russia. She is now in Ukrainian-controlled territory and lives in Kyiv with her boyfriend. Ahead of both young people is a period of adaptation, the opportunity to continue their education and build their own futures at home. We thank the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War for facilitating their return. *Names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the @helpingtoleave team made it possible to return Natalia*, Katia*, and Mariia* to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Natalia and Katia are sisters from a large family. Their older brothers had left the temporarily occupied territory earlier, so the girls and their mother later also decided to leave and contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. The team helped the family organize a safe route and supported them throughout the journey. With the assistance of the Coordination Headquarters, the sisters obtained certificates for return to Ukraine and successfully crossed the border together with their mother. Today, the family is already in Ukrainian-controlled territory and reunited with the girls’ older brothers. The sisters now plan to continue building their lives in Ukraine. Mariia left a part of the Luhansk region that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. She was able to complete only one year of school under the Ukrainian curriculum and was then forced to continue her education under the Russian curriculum. Mariia also contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. The team helped prepare her route, and with the support of the Coordination Headquarters, she obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine and was able to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory. Mariia is now in Ukraine. She plans to complete the 11th grade and later work and build her future here. We thank the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War for facilitating their return. *Names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the @helpingtoleave team made it possible to return Ihor* and Viktor* to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ihor left the Zaporizhzhia region. He contacted Helping to Leave for assistance while already on the road, after becoming concerned that his expired passport could prevent him from crossing the border from the Belarusian side. The team helped Ihor obtain a certificate for return to Ukraine and supported him with travel to Minsk, accommodation, and meals. During the journey, Ihor also helped other people along the way. At the final stage of the route, he assisted a woman using a wheelchair in crossing the border. Today, Ihor is already in Ukraine and has reunited with his brother. Viktor wanted to leave the temporarily occupied Luhansk region and contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. With the support of the Coordination Headquarters, he obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine at the Ukrainian Embassy in Minsk and successfully crossed the border. Viktor is now in Ukrainian-controlled territory and plans to enroll at a Ukrainian higher education institution. Ahead of both young men is a period of adaptation and the opportunity to build their future in Ukraine. We thank the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War for facilitating their return. *All names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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Alla luce della nuova ondata di massicci bombardamenti sull'Ucraina, vi vogliamo ricordare alcune iniziative comprovate a sostegno degli ucraini. Ogni donazione può aiutare gli ucraini nella loro lotta, garantire elletricità alla popolazione durante l'autunno, offrire assistenza ai prigionieri di guerra ucraini o contribuire all'evacuazione dei residenti dalle zone occupate.
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12 years. That’s enough time for an entire generation to grow up without ever having known life without occupation. And yet they still await their chance to leave. @helping.to.leave @helpingtoleave creates such chances for people daily: helps those who find themselves at risk due to the war evacuate and adapt to life in a new place. Support the effort by scanning the QR code or following the link in this video or in the project’s bio. Every dollar or euro brings someone closer to freedom 🤍
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As part of the President of Ukraine’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, the joint efforts of the Helping to Leave team made it possible to return three more young people to Ukrainian-controlled territory — Sviatoslav*, Kyrylo*, and Serhii*. Sviatoslav lived in the Zaporizhzhia region. After turning 18, he decided to leave the temporarily occupied territory and contacted Helping to Leave for assistance. The team helped prepare a safe route and supported him throughout the journey. On the way, Sviatoslav also helped other travelers, including older people crossing the humanitarian corridor. Today, he is already in Ukraine and is planning his future here. Kyrylo is from the Donetsk region. He completed nine years of school under the Ukrainian curriculum, but for the final two years was forced to study under the Russian curriculum. After graduating, he enrolled at a university, while still hoping to restore his Ukrainian documents and leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory. Kyrylo later contacted Helping to Leave. With the support of the Coordination Headquarters, he successfully left together with a friend. Serhii also grew up in the Donetsk region. In 2022, he was taken to Russia. He wanted to return to Ukraine and asked for help organizing his departure. With the support of the Coordination Headquarters, Serhii obtained a certificate for return to Ukraine in Minsk and was able to make his way home. Today, all three are already in Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ahead of them is a period of adaptation, document restoration, and the opportunity to build their own futures at home. We thank the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War for facilitating their return. *All names have been changed for security reasons. #BringKidsBack
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