War's Innocent Victims: Stories of Loss and Strength of the Children of Heroes
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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:
1. From Survivor to Lifeline: A Mariupol Widow Transforms Her Grief into Hope for Other War Victims
When russian forces invaded Ukraine, Olha Leus lost everything — her home, her husband, and her sense of safety. But from the ashes of war, she rebuilt her life with a new mission: to help other grieving families survive, adapt, and believe in tomorrow.
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Before the war, Olha Leus worked at the Administrative Services Center in Mariupol and lived a peaceful life with her husband Volodymyr and their two sons. But on February 24, 2022, everything changed. As shelling intensified, the family remained trapped in their home, believing things would improve.
On March 20, a shell hit their apartment, injuring their younger son, Heorhiy. That same day, Volodymyr stepped outside to check the damage and was killed by a sniper. The family couldn’t leave the building for six more days. With the help of neighbors, Olha buried her husband in the yard, next to an Orthodox cross.
She had to stay strong for her children. “We’ll mourn later — right now we just have to endure,” she told her eldest son. Eventually, they escaped to Lviv with the help of a local driver. There, a psychologist guided her through telling her younger son the truth about his father’s death — a moment filled with tears, anger, and finally, acceptance.
In Lviv, Olha found temporary shelter and purpose at the YaMariupol center. Later, she came under the care of the Children of Heroes Charity Fund, which not only helped her rebuild but offered her a new role — as a family assistant. Today, she supports other families who lost loved ones in the war, offering not just aid, but empathy, understanding, and hope.
“Pain doesn’t disappear,” she says, “but when you help someone else carry theirs, your own becomes lighter.”
2. A Son's Unwavering Wait: 11 Months Until His Mother, an Azov Soldier, Returned From Captivity
For eleven agonizing months, nine-year-old Yehor waited. Photos of his parents stood by his bedside, a song he wrote for his mother, Alina, resonated in his heart. His mother, Alina Haburych, a soldier of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, had been captured in Mariupol after her husband, Vadym, was killed in battle. Her sole focus during captivity was the dream of seeing her son again. This is a profound story of love, immense loss, and the quiet, enduring courage of those left behind.
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Alina and Vadym Haburych were both dedicated fighters with Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, defending their country long before russia’s full-scale invasion. On February 24, 2022, they stood side by side in Azovstal, the final Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol. In April, Vadym was critically wounded in the plant’s bunkers and tragically died without medical attention. A month later, Alina was taken captive by russian forces, enduring eleven months in harsh detention facilities. Her only solace was the unwavering hope of reuniting with her son.
Back home in Cherkasy, seven-year-old Yehor clung to memories and the special song he’d composed for his mother, waiting with his grandparents. Each morning, he’d ask, “When will she come back?” On April 23, 2023, that fervent wish became reality. Alina was released and finally reunited with Yehor, though their first phone call was bittersweet.
“It was difficult because when I first spoke to my child on the phone, he didn’t believe it was me,” Alina recounts. “He just asked who it was. I had such emotions, you know. Finally, it had happened, but my child didn’t recognize me. He didn’t believe it was his mother, that it was even possible.”
“I waited for her for so long, and I finally got to see her,” Yehor said. Yet, Alina’s deepest sorrow remains: she cannot lay her husband to rest, as russia has yet to return his remains to Ukraine.
Today, the now nine-year-old Yehor is passionate about music and possesses a beautiful singing voice. Alina continues her military service, deeply grateful to the Children of Heroes Charity Fund, an organization providing vital support to families like hers during their most challenging times. However, countless Ukrainian POWs, just like Alina once was, remain in russian captivity. Their families still wait. Their stories must not be allowed to fade from the world’s view.
3. A Stranger’s Sacrifice Saved Her Life: The Story of Katya from Kramatorsk
On April 8, 2022, Kateryna Iorgu stood on the crowded platform of Kramatorsk train station with her family, desperate to escape the intensifying war. Moments later, a russian missile strike tore through the crowd, transforming the evacuation hub into a scene of unspeakable devastation. Before Kateryna’s eyes, her mother was killed. The only reason Kateryna survived was because an unknown stranger shielded her with his own body — a profound act of sacrifice that saved her life.
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Kateryna Iorgu and her family lived in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region. At the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, they evacuated to Vinnytsia to stay with relatives, as their hometown became too dangerous. On April 8, 2022, Kateryna, her mother, and her younger sister traveled to the Kramatorsk railway station, where an evacuation train was expected. However, before they could board, the station was struck in one of the deadliest attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
Kateryna’s mother was killed instantly in the blast. Kateryna herself miraculously survived because a man, whose name she never learned, threw himself over her, absorbing the shrapnel and blast impact. He died, but his selfless act ensured the young girl’s survival. Kateryna suffered severe shrapnel wounds to both legs and still faces immense challenges walking, requiring ongoing rehabilitation and medical support.
Now, with the devastating loss of their mother, Kateryna and her little sister navigate a world without her guiding presence. Kateryna, still grappling with physical pain and the trauma of that day, dreams of a peaceful sky and a future free from air raid sirens. Despite the profound grief and ongoing struggles, she and her sister cling to hope and the indelible memory of those who loved and protected them, including the ultimate sacrifice of a hero she never knew.
4. The Boy Who Waits: War Took His Mother, a Father Went Missing, But Hope Remains
In March 2022, a russian airstrike killed Dmytro’s mother before she could return home. A year later, his father joined the army and vanished during a mission. Now raised by his grandmother in war-scarred Chernihiv, Dmytro finds comfort in small things: a toy his mother once picked for him, his growing cactus collection, and the hope that one day, his father will come home.
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The Terentiev family once lived peacefully in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine. That peace was brutally shattered on March 16, 2022, when Dmytro’s mother, Tetiana, was killed by a russian shelling attack. Moments earlier, she had left her son with her mother, Maria, promising to quickly return after gathering a few belongings. She never made it back.
Dmytro’s grandmother, Maria, became his unwavering guardian. Together, they fled the besieged city, only to return months later to painstakingly rebuild what they could of their lives and shattered home. In early 2023, Dmytro’s father, Roman, bravely enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. But by June, he was reported missing in action. A single, unsettling photo surfaced on a russian website — bruised, captured, and unconfirmed. Since then, there has been only agonizing silence.
Today, Maria says she lives solely for her grandson. Dmytro is a bright, curious boy who excels in math and computer science, loves playing the piano, and carefully tends to his beloved cacti. He dreams of becoming a YouTuber. More profoundly, he dreams of peace and of embracing his father once more.
The Children of Heroes Charity Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting war-affected families, stands with families like the Terentievs. We offer crucial support as these families navigate unimaginable grief, crushing uncertainty, and the long, dark shadow of war.
The Children of Heroes Charity Fund supports children who have lost one or both parents due to the war. The fund offers immediate, personalized aid, including humanitarian assistance, psychological and medical support, and educational and developmental opportunities for children until they reach adulthood. Fund’s programs and projects are built on an individualized approach, ensuring each child’s unique needs are met. Over three years, the organization has provided 625 million UAH in aid, significantly expanding its operations to become Ukraine’s largest foundation dedicated to long-term child support.
As of now, the fund cares for over 14 000 children. Of these, 27% have been forced to leave their homes, 1% have lost both parents, another 1% have lost their mothers, 2% are children with disabilities, 12% come from large families, and 27% are in difficult financial circumstances. Nearly 100 new children join the fund each week. Among the fund’s children, 94%, are children of military personnel, while 6% are children of civilians.
The fund’s mission is to honor the memory of fallen Ukrainian Heroes by creating a supportive environment where their children can overcome challenges, improve their lives, and build a bright future for themselves and for Ukraine.
Let’s join forces to support our children! Together, we can achieve victory!
The New York Times about us:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/18/opinion/ukraine-russia-war-children.html
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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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