“The explosions were so powerful that the house was shaking. It was very hard, especially when drones and missiles were flying overhead…”

These are the words of Kateryna, whom our team evacuated from under shelling in the Donetsk region. Now her family and their relatives are safe. Eleven people, including six children, along with six furry pets, are beginning a new life far from the front line.

To rescue this large family, our team had to prepare carefully. The first call from Kateryna came back in late January. She desperately wanted to leave with her family, but circumstances prevented them from doing so on their own. While we were preparing the rescue, other relatives joined the request. The whole large family wanted to evacuate together and settle close to one another in the same village.

Our team began searching for a village with available houses. Then we still had to repair the stoves and check the electricity supply in the homes. Once the housing issue was resolved, we found a truck for the move. The head of the direction then developed a complex logistics route to make the journey safer.

The journey from the Kramatorsk district took 20 hours. Our evacuation team stayed by the families’ side the entire time – accompanying them, talking with them, and offering support. For us, it is important not only to get people out of danger, but also to support them spiritually and restore hope for the future.

Meanwhile, in the Vinnytsia region, the village head had already lit the stove and prepared hot meals to welcome the two large families with home warmth and comfort. We are grateful to the team of Caritas Mariupol, who supported us throughout this difficult rescue mission.

🚨 If you and your children are still living under shelling, do not hesitate – evacuate. Write to us or call the free Save Ukraine hotline:

☎️ 0 800 333 129

We will rescue you, bring you to a safe place, and help you start over.