Six times, Tamara and her daughter Nastya tried to leave the occupied Chuguyiv district. Six times they were stopped by the russians at checkpoints and turned back.
The village of Chkalovske was occupied a few days after the start of the full-scale invasion, and was liberated only in September. In spring, the family left their home with nothing.
It took Tamara and Nastya 6 hours to get to Kharkiv. In peacetime it took half an hour by car. Initially, they were accommodated in a dormitory in Lyubotyn. In August, they were able to move to the local Mother and Child Center. Here they were provided with housing, things, and products. The center’s employees take care of the children.
Nastya attends a local dance club and learns ballroom dancing. When she starts talking about classes, both her and her mother’s eyes start beaming.
The family will not spend the winter at home, but both mother and daughter dream of returning to their native village.
“We have faith that the war will end with our victory and we will return home. However, at present hostilities carry on.”, says Svitlana.
Thanks to our partners, the Charitable Foundation “Volunteers: Adults to Children”, and donors in Austria we can support mothers and children together.
Photo: Stanislav Ostrous for the Charitable Fund “Global 2000 for the Children of Ukraine”