Specialists of “East SOS” helped a Crimean citizen get a Ukrainian passport and find relatives
The activities of the specialists at the “East SOS” Charity Foundation border on true artistry. It’s not just about knowing the laws, understanding social media intricacies, or finding the right approach for each individual. Sometimes, it feels like they are real-life magicians!
Recently, the foundation’s team made a heartfelt gift for Kostiantyn, who had supported Ukraine for 10 years under the temporary occupation of Crimea. His dream was to relocate to a territory under Ukrainian control. Living with a disability, Kostiantyn couldn’t leave the peninsula for a long time, but after his mother’s death, he began preparing for this move. Alone with his dream, he took action, and the foundation’s experts did everything to ensure that Kostiantyn received a Ukrainian passport and comprehensive support.
So, how did Kostiantyn manage to leave temporarily occupied Crimea? He was born 25 years ago in Armiansk. When Kostiantyn was 11, his father lost parental rights, and in 2019, his mother passed away. Since then, he lived with his brother, but after his brother ended up in a detention center, Kostiantyn decided to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory.
He meticulously planned his escape, knowing that russian forces would scrutinize him. He borrowed his brother’s internet account, which supported the invasion, donned a hat with the word “russia” on it, and left his hometown for Dzhankoy, then rostov, belgorod, and finally to the checkpoint where a humanitarian corridor was operating at the time.
At the russian border, Kostiantyn and others waited around 8 hours. After passing the checkpoint, he headed to a shelter run by East SOS in Dnipro.
How did the foundation’s specialists help him obtain a passport and reconnect with his family? Kostiantyn lacked any Ukrainian-issued documents, only having his birth certificate. The foundation’s team immediately took on his case but faced challenges establishing his identity. This process was complicated because Kostiantyn couldn’t recall his relatives who lived in Ukrainian-controlled territory.
With the assistance of the State Migration Service, they managed to locate Kostiantyn’s brother. At first, the brother agreed to communicate via video call but later withdrew, citing the ban on contacting Ukrainian-controlled territories from under occupation.
The team didn’t give up and continued searching for relatives through social media. Eventually, they found Kostiantyn’s aunt. She traveled to Dnipro not only to confirm his identity but also to invite her nephew to live with her in the Kyiv region.
There are many young, pro-Ukrainian people living in temporarily occupied territories. These resilient Ukrainians need our support! If you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t lose hope – reach out to the foundation for help.
Діяльність реалізується в межах проєкту «Комплексні заходи з гуманітарного реагування на потреби постраждалих від конфлікту українців та громадян третіх країн в Україні, Польщі, Румунії та Молдови» за підтримки Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe.
