War's Innocent Victims: Stories of Loss and Strength of the Children of Heroes
June 1 is a day of children's joy and laughter in many parts of the world, but for Ukrainian children, it is overshadowed by war. Thousands of homes have been destroyed, and many children have been internally displaced and forced to witness horrific crimes.
On the eve of International Children's Day, Children of Heroes, a Ukrainian charitable foundation, shares stories of resilience and courage of children who lost one or both parents during the Russian war in Ukraine.
Children of Heroes is not just a charitable organization, but a community that supports and inspires these little heroes, giving them hope for a better future.
Press Contacts
To arrange an interview, receive comments, and resolve any issues, please contact
Kateryna Zosina, PR Director
Contact for discussion and cooperation:
Official website of the Foundation:
8-year-old daughter of fallen serviceman buys six cars and five thermal imagers for the Armed Forces
Iryna's father died in the war when her daughter was 6. After that, the girl started weaving wreaths and selling them, and donated the money she earned to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Iryna has already purchased 6 cars, 5 thermal imagers and much more for the Ukrainian military.
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Oleksandr Vasyliev has been at war since 2014. Viktoriia, the wife of the fallen soldier, told us how their daughter miraculously sensed her father's death:
"I spoke to him on the phone the day he died. He said he was fine, but might be out of touch. Iryna knew it. In the evening, she asked me to call her dad. Not just to talk to him, but to tell him to come home.
I felt very strange because it had never happened before. My daughter knew that there was a war in the country. She has always been sympathetic to the military and their duty to defend the country. Ira also knew her dad was at war, and we never had problems with her not letting him go there. So I was a little scared why she was behaving like that and what was bothering her.
Until the next morning, I called the wife of one of his comrades-in-arms. She told me that my husband Oleksandr was killed while performing a combat mission. It happened on March 27, 2022, in Mykolaiv region. Later, his body was brought and buried in his native Rivne."
Iryna decided to volunteer after her father's death, thus continuing his mission to help Ukraine. Now Iryna is 8 years old and a third grader.
She makes handmade wreaths and sells them at charity fairs and on her Instagram and Facebook pages. And then she buys everything she needs for the military.
Ira received a certificate of honor and a flag from Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. Additionally, she wrote a letter to Boris Johnson with her English teacher.
"We have to understand that it is not the military that needs our help, but first and foremost we need to help the military so that our country remains free and independent. Many people lose hope. But you always have to ask yourself: what have I done to win? After all, victory depends on each of us," added Victoria, Iryna's mother.
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"I've Waited for Her for So Long": 8-Year-Old Yehor Finally Embraces His Mother After 11 Months in Captivity
Yehor’s mother, Alina Gaburych, experienced the full-scale invasion at Azovstal. Amid fierce fighting, she lost her husband and, along with thousands of Mariupol defenders, was taken prisoner. Throughout those terrible days, her only dream was to see her son Yegor, who had been waiting for his mother for 11 months.
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Alina and Vadym Gaburych are soldiers of the Azov Regiment. They bravely defended Ukraine even before the full-scale invasion, until they were both injured at Azovstal on February 24.
Vadym was seriously injured in April. He died in the bunker of the plant. Alina, along with thousands of Mariupol defenders, was taken prisoner.
Little Yehor was raised by his grandparents. However, the boy looked at the photos of his mom and dad over his bed every day and believed that they would return. He even wrote a song for his mom!
The Children of Heroes CF has been helping the family, providing material and humanitarian aid (medicines, food, hygiene kits). Yehor also received a long-awaited tablet.
“I waited for her so hard, for so long, but I waited,” the boy says, tears in his eyes.
Fortunately, in April 2023, Alina was released from captivity and she and her son finally met!
“The biggest pain is that we still can’t bury my husband,” says Alina. The Russians have not handed over Vadym’s remains to Ukraine, and they are probably still in Mariupol.
Yehor is now 8 years old. He plays musical instruments and sings well, and his mother Alina continues her military service.
Alina sincerely thanks the Children of Heroes Fund for supporting her son and the parents of her deceased husband at a time when they were left alone.
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Her husband was killed in action: the story of Alona, a pilot’s wife and mother of two children
Alona Kyryliuk is from Kharkiv region, and she currently lives in Poltava region. She is the mother of two children: 11-year-old Anastasiia and Timur, who is only one year old. The woman is a military officer.
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Alona’s husband, Denys, is a lieutenant colonel, a fighter pilot (Deputy Squadron Commander, Squadron Flight Navigator). The man was called to duty on the night of February 23-24, 2022. He asked his wife to stay at home with the daughter. Later, Alona heard the first explosions.
Denis flew over 80 sorties. He was awarded the Order “For Courage” of the third class, as well as the “Firearms” award of the Ministry of Defense. The man died on March 27, 2023 while performing a combat mission. The enemy shot down his plane over Chernihiv region. The pilot was taking the plane away from a settlement and did not have time to eject.
By prior agreement, journalists can talk to Alona Kyryliuk in Poltava region. Interviews can be conducted both online and offline.
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Enduring the terrors of occupation with her family: Nadiia from Kyiv region’s story
In the early days of the all-out war, russian forces seized control of Krasiatychi village in the Kyiv region, where Nadiia Smyrnova resided. Nadiia, alongside her mother and 9-year-old son Sashko, remained in the village. The invaders ransacked their home, even attempting to detonate a grenade, putting the family’s lives at risk.
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Sashko’s grandmother bravely intervened, shielding her loved ones from harm, despite facing the barrel of russian machine guns. Surviving nearly a month under occupation, the ordeal left a lasting impact on Sashko, who vividly recalls the harrowing experiences shared with his mother and grandmother.
At the onset of the full-blown war, Sashko’s father voluntarily served in defense of Ukraine. Tragically, on August 29, 2022, he fell victim to a russian mine in the Donetsk region. Now, the family receives support from the Children of Heroes charity foundation.
Journalists seeking to interview Nadiia in the Kyiv region must arrange it in advance. Interviews can be conducted both online and offline.
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Husband killed, younger son wounded: The tragic tale of Mariupol resident Olha enduring the onset of the all-out invasion in her city
Before the full-scale war, Olha Leus worked at an administrative service center in Mariupol. She was raising two sons: They are 10-year-old Hera and 16-year-old Mykhailo. Olha’s husband Volodymyr worked at the Azov Shipyard, and shortly before February 24, 2022, at the port.
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Despite the escalating concerns about wider war, the family initially chose to remain in Mariupol, hoping for a swift expulsion of the invaders. However, as the situation worsened and the city became blockaded, evacuation became impossible.
Olha experienced relentless russian shelling and bombing for 11 consecutive days, culminating in tragedy on March 20, 2022, when her younger son sustained injuries from an enemy shell hitting their home, leaving him with leg wounds. A week later, her husband tragically passed away after leaving the house and never returning. His body was discovered by his mother-in-law and laid to rest in a local green space that once served as a sports ground.
It wasn’t until April 15, 2022, that Olha and her family were able to escape Mariupol. Following their displacement, the Children of Heroes Charitable Foundation stepped in to provide support, with Olha eventually joining as a specialist in aiding affected families. Meanwhile, her eldest son aspires to become a psychotherapist, aiming to assist those scarred by the horrors of war.
Journalists seeking to speak with Olha can arrange interviews in the Kyiv region. Interviews can be conducted both online and offline.
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Every 3rd Child of the Fund Needs Professional Psychological Support
Families are often left alone to deal with their grief. Timely professional psychological assistance can significantly impact the future lives of children and their guardians. Therefore, the direction of “Psychological support and socialization ” is one of the priorities in our Fund.
Many families we support seek help from psychologists who help children and their guardians. After all, children’s coping with loss largely depends on the state of the adults around them.
- The Fund’s psychologists conducted 12,903 consultations for Children of Heroes and their guardians.
- 1,628 children have attended and continue to attend various types of art therapy.
The Fund’s psychologists also held several lectures and seminars for the Fund’s assistants who take care of families to help them stabilize emotionally, restore their resources, prevent burnout, and solve difficult cases in families.
Psychologist Marta Bilyk:
“We help parents reconnect with their children, talk about loss, sadness, and pain safely, show them how to support themselves and their children and find resources and strength to live. Adults who understand their feelings and the child’s condition can be a tremendous support and pillar of strength for the child now and in the future.
Seeing how children change, open up, and return to their usual space, friends, school, and favorite activities during counseling is a pleasure. They start to dream and believe in their happy future. We psychologists help create a safe space where children can freely share their fears and worries, receive the necessary support, and restore their faith”.
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The Children of Heroes Charity Fund supports children who have lost one or both parents due to the full-scale invasion of Russia. The foundation offers humanitarian, psychological and legal support, and fosters the education and growth of these children until they reach adulthood.
For the 1 of May, 8841 wards are under the care of the Fund. Of them, 36% left their homes, 2% children lost their mother, 2% children have lost their mother and father, 2% are children with disabilities, 12% are children from large families, 51% children live in families with tough financial situation. About 80 children join the Fund every week. Among the foundation’s children, 91% are kids of military personnel, while the remaining 9% are civilians.
Throughout two years, the organization experienced substantial growth, establishing itself as the largest of its kind in Ukraine.
The foundation’s programs and projects are designed with an individualized approach to cater to the unique needs of each child.
Let’s join forces to support our children! Together, we can achieve victory!
If you have any questions, please contact us.
Contact for discussion and cooperation: [email protected]
Official website of the Foundation: https://childrenheroes.org/en/
To arrange an interview, receive comments, and resolve any issues, please contact Kateryna Zosina, PR Director, at [email protected] or +380979071558.
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