Last week, the Save Ukraine team rescued six Ukrainian children and teenagers from occupation. This was made possible thanks to the support of Wladimir Klitschko, Tatjana Kiel from We Are All Ukrainians, Helping to Leave, the Humanity Funds, and the Joint Center for the Coordination of Search and Release. These children endured years of intimidation and attempts to erase their national identity. Today, they are finally safe.

Among those rescued:

16-year-old Sofiia, whose “social services” threatened to separate her from her parents because they refused to obtain a Russian passport for their daughter. At her Russian school, Sofiia was forced to attend classes such as “Conversations About Important Things” and “Russia — My Horizons,” along with other newly introduced subjects that have nothing to do with genuine education or science.

19-year-old Nazar, who was detained outside a store and taken to a military enlistment office to be registered for military service. When he refused, he was threatened with fines ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 rubles and “deportation.” He was released that time, but he understood clearly that next time he could be forcibly drafted at any moment.

20-year-old Mykyta, whose moped was confiscated by Russian soldiers after he and a friend overtook their vehicle. The occupiers threw a brick at the boys, stopped the moped, and took it along with their money and personal belongings. To get the vehicle back, he was forced to bring them 10 liters of gasoline. Even then, part of the money and belongings were never returned.

Today, all those rescued are staying at our Hope and Healing Centers, where they receive psychological support, assistance with documents, safe housing, and care — everything they need to recover from the horrors of war and learn how to dream again.

Thanks to Save Ukraine, more than 1,000 children have already been brought home. But thousands more are still waiting to be rescued.