When War Forces a Choice, Family Comes First: The Story of a Rescued Family from Pokrovsk (Donetsk Region)
Yurii from Pokrovsk lived in a private house and worked as an electrician at a mine. His marriage did not last, so his closest family were his mother, Mariia Denysivna, and his sister, Valentyna. For eight years, Valentyna had been caring for their mother after a stroke that left her with limited mobility. They also shared their home with Sonia, a quiet and gentle cat who was especially dear to Valentyna. The family was close-knit, always supporting and caring for one another.
When the security situation in Pokrovsk deteriorated and evacuation became urgent, Yurii called the East SOS hotline. He asked for help to save what mattered most to him – his mother and sister. In July 2025, an East SOS evacuation crew evacuated Mariia Denysivna and Valentyna together with their cat. They were accommodated at the Ocean of Good Center for Social Adaptation for People with Disabilities.
Two days later, the evacuation team returned for Yurii. He was taken from frontline Pokrovsk to Dnipro and temporarily accommodated at the East SOS shelter on Nezlamna Street. Once the family was finally reunited and safe, the team began searching for a long-term place of residence for them in safer regions of Ukraine and abroad.
Unfortunately, Mariia Denysivna passed away in August 2025 due to her health condition. Her children went through this loss together – organizing the funeral, handling the paperwork, and saying goodbye to their mother while already in evacuation. Even in grief, they stayed side by side, supporting one another as they had throughout their lives.
Afterward, Yurii and Valentyna returned to the question of where they could finally rebuild their lives.
“We offered them relocation abroad for permanent residence, and they agreed. However, Valentyna had one essential condition: she could only move with her cat. She could not imagine her life without her tailed companion. We had to find a solution where every life would be valued,” said Olha Prasil-Kovaliova, Social Worker at East SOS.
Olha began preparing the family’s documents and passports. Thanks to cooperation with partners from the Barrier Free Foundation, places for them were found in Denmark. However, shortly before departure, it became clear that the temporary refugee camp in Denmark – where they would stay before moving to permanent housing – could not accept pets. A similar facility in Germany could, but not in Denmark. The brother and sister faced an extremely difficult choice: to separate or to give up the opportunity for safety abroad. At first, they made a painful decision – Yurii would travel to Denmark, while Valentyna and her cat would go to Germany.
But a fortunate turn of events prevented the separation. Sonia found a temporary home in Denmark while waiting for resettlement, allowing the brother and sister to set off together. Today, Yurii and Valentyna are searching for an opportunity to reunite under one roof.
This story is about a family that has endured loss and faced difficult choices. It is a journey shaped by war – one that repeatedly forced them to choose between safety, care, and responsibility for one another. Despite everything, they stayed together, because even when saving yourself, it is vital not to leave your loved ones behind. The East SOS team is proud to have been part of this rescue story.
Psychosocial support is provided as part of the project “Protection and Psychosocial Services for People with Limited Mobility and Persons with Disabilities Affected by War”, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Previously, East SOS also implemented a project that provided high-speed Internet access to residents of a residential care facility.
