Sixteen more Ukrainians brought back from Russian occupation: 1986 Chornobyl disaster first responder among them – photos
Sixteen more Ukrainians have managed to leave the Russian occupation for Ukrainian-controlled territory. Among them is a woman whose health issues prevented her from making the journey alone and a 1986 Chornobyl disaster first responder Known as "liquidators", the first responders were civil and military personnel called in to deal with the immediate and long-term aftermath of the nuclear disaster, at great personal risk whose wife passed away before they could reunite with their daughter.
Source: Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, recounting the Ukrainians' stories of fleeing Russian occupation
Details: The evacuation took place through the Novi Yarylovychi border crossing point with Belarus in Chernihiv Oblast. Among those evacuated is a woman who had spent a long time living alone under occupation despite her health problems and limited mobility.
She couldn't make the journey back on her own, so special transport, a medical escort and a safe route were arranged for her. Everything had to be organised discreetly to avoid attracting Russian attention and putting her in even greater danger.
A man who had served as a first responder during the Chornobyl nuclear disaster and was living in Luhansk Oblast with his seriously ill wife also managed to reunite with his family. His wife had suffered a massive stroke in April and needed constant care. Her husband had health problems of his own and could no longer look after her properly.
An urgent evacuation to Kyiv, where their daughter was waiting for them, was arranged for the married couple. But the woman died before they could leave, and her husband had to make the journey out of the occupied territory alone.
Lubinets said: "The return of 16 Ukrainians from the temporarily occupied territories represents 16 different stories, circumstances and journeys to safety. For some, the journey home was a chance to finally receive medical care; for others, it was a chance to reunite with their loved ones.
Every such return requires an individual approach, careful preparation and coordination among many people."
He added that Ukrainians returning from the temporarily occupied territories face numerous challenges as they try to rebuild their lives in safety. They are provided with medical treatment, help restoring their documents and finding temporary accommodation, assistance with travel arrangements, psychological support and help reuniting with their loved ones.
Background: Previously, three young people were brought back from Russian occupation. Two of them had ended up under Russian control when they were still children, and their parents later moved them to Russia.
Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.