From Rescue to a New Home: East SOS Completes the Full Evacuation Cycle for a Family from the Frontline Synelnykove Raion

In June, the East SOS team evacuated Nataliia and her five children from the village of Hryshai in Dubovyky hromada (community) of Synelnykove Raion. The youngest child, Myroslav, is just seven months old.

The frontline is only a short distance from their village. As russian attacks intensified each day, the mandatory evacuation for families with children was announced in the hromada. Nataliia immediately contacted the East SOS call center. She already had the Foundation’s contact details, as our crew had visited the village a few weeks earlier to inform residents about the importance of evacuating to safety.

The Foundation’s evacuation crew responded immediately, helping the family leave the frontline area while ensuring the children felt safe and cared for.

“We received incredible care and kindness from the evacuation crew. They treated the children like their own – talking to them throughout the trip, comforting and entertaining them, and even buying them ice cream. Their compassion was truly overwhelming,” Nataliia recalls.

The evacuation crew transported the family to the transit center in Voloske, where they stayed to recover for several days. During that time, they applied for cash assistance, received consultations from specialists, and obtained humanitarian aid provided by partner organizations.

The Foundation’s evacuation logistics team then began searching for suitable long-term accommodation in a safer region of Ukraine. Thanks to their efforts and the support of people that care, a home was found in Vinnytsia Oblast where the family could settle on a long-term basis. East SOS organized the family’s relocation, ensuring the journey was as comfortable as possible.

The family is now settling into their new home. Nataliia was deeply touched by the warm welcome from the village head and their new neighbors, who have surrounded them with support. The house is located close to essential services, including a first aid post, a grocery store, a school, and a kindergarten. For the first time in a long while, the children will be able to attend school in person instead of studying online.

Nataliia is profoundly grateful to the East SOS team for helping save her family. Having experienced evacuation herself, she now urges other residents of frontline areas not to delay making the same decision.

“Don’t wait to evacuate. There are many kind people willing to help, and you won’t be left alone in your time of need. The most important thing parents should think about is their children’s safety,” she said.

This assistance was provided as part of the project “MESH: Multisectoral Emergency Support for High-Severity Hromadas” implemented by East SOS in coordination with CF “The Right to Protection” and with support from the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF).

Earlier, a couple from Donetsk Oblast and 30 other evacuees from frontline areas found shelter across Ukraine.