The children's father entrusted the stranger with their kids as he had to stay back to fight as per martial law.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has thrown the region into a humanitarian crisis, but the people of Ukraine are showing incredible resilience.
The invasion has caused many Ukrainians to flee their homes to neighboring countries. While women and children are allowed to leave, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 have been banned from leaving the country after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law. This has broken apart many families.
In an incredible story from the Ukraine border, a 38-year-old man was forced to hand over his young children to a complete stranger. The border guards had refused to let him pass citing martial law. He pleaded with the woman to safely take his children to the other side of the border into Hungary where their mother awaited them, reported Reuters.
Nataliya Ableyeva, 58, didn't hesitate for a second and took them across past the border guards to hand over to Anna Semyuk, 33. Ableyeva hails from Kamianets-Podilskyi, which also happened to be the hometown of the 38-year-old man who entrusted her with his son and daughter. The 38-year-old wrapped his children in thick jackets, hats and bid them an emotional goodbye as he handed them to Ableyeva. "Their father simply handed over the two kids to me, and trusted me, giving me their passports to bring them over," said Ableyeva as the young boy clung to her with his arms around her neck. She held tight on to their hands as they crossed the border together. Ableyeva had a phone number to contact once she crossed the border on the Hungarian side at Beregsurany.
The kids waited with Ableyeva on the Hungarian side of the border, sitting on a bench as refugees kept passing them. The boy had started to cry when Semyuk got through to Ableyeva on the phone. She was near the border post. She had just flown in from Italy to take them away to safety from the invasion. She hugged her son and then went to her daughter, who was at the back of a car, wrapped in a pink blanket. There was palpable relief on her face as she hugged them and thanked Ableyeva. The pair hugged and cried. Semyuk is happy knowing that she's there for her kids and can assure them things are going to be alright.
The pain of separation from one's children is not alien to Ableyeva herself, who was forced to leave her two adult children back in Ukraine. With one of them being a policeman and the other a nurse, they weren't allowed to leave Ukraine as per martial law instituted in the wake of the invasion.
Heartbreaking separation
There have been countless inspiring stories of vulnerability and bravery from Ukrainians in the face of the attack by Russia. Last week, a heartbreaking video showed a father kissing his children goodbye as he stayed back and fight for Ukraine following the invasion of the country by Russia on February 24. In the video, the father is kissing his daughter before putting a white beanie hat on her head. He can then be seen crying into his daughter before hugging who is believed to be his partner in a family hug.
Zelensky wants admission into the EU
Russians have continued their onslaught even as talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations are underway in Belarus. Ukraine has demanded an “immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops,” reported CNN. Latest reports show that Russian forces are still more than 19 miles) north of Kyiv, as per the UK's Ministry of Defense on Monday. Zelensky has called on European Union to "urgently admit Ukraine" to the bloc. "Our goal is to be with all Europeans and to be equal to them. I am sure we deserve it. I am sure it is possible," he said.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a developing story, and we’ll update as we learn more. Information is swiftly changing and Women Working is committed to providing the most recent and verified updates in our articles and reportage. However, considering the frequency in developments, some of the information/data in this article may have changed since the time of publication.
References:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-border-mother-brings-strangers-children-safety-2022-02-26/
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/ukraine-russia-news-02-28-22/index.html
Cover image source: YouTube screenshot/The Guardian
