In Mariupol, a family’s life was turned upside down by the brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. Sasha, an 11-year-old boy, was forcefully separated from his mother, Snizhana, and taken to occupied Donetsk. For weeks, his grandmother, Liudmyla, didn’t know if he was alive or dead.
The family had planned to leave Mariupol before the invasion but were unable to due to transportation issues. When the invasion started, the city was pounded by constant shelling, leaving residents without essential services like electricity and water.
During the chaos, Sasha was injured by shrapnel and taken to a hospital in occupied Donetsk. There, he was separated from his mother by Child Rights Services and told that she didn’t want him anymore. This tactic of separating Ukrainian children from their families and indoctrinating them with anti-Ukrainian propaganda is a known strategy employed by the Russian government.
Liudmyla, determined to reunite with her grandson, embarked on a dangerous journey through multiple countries to reach him. After navigating checkpoints and border crossings, she finally found Sasha in the hospital and brought him back to safety in Ukraine.
Despite the joy of being reunited, the family’s ordeal is far from over. Snizhana is still missing, and rumors suggest she may have been taken to a camp in Russia. Liudmyla remains determined to find her daughter and bring her home.
As Sasha adjusts to life back in Ukraine, he continues to advocate for his mother’s return, speaking to the press and seeking help from world leaders. The family’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of the human cost of war and the enduring strength of a grandmother’s love.