Sofia and Serhiy’s family are originally from the Dnipropetrovsk region in the center of Ukraine. Their father was deployed near the border of Russia on the day the full-scale invasion began. Meanwhile, their mother remained at home with the children. Following the onset of the war, their father contacted the family urging them to leave Ukraine immediately, though their mother relented in order to not leave her beloved husband behind. Having grown up in an orphanage, she possessed wisdom beyond her years, and considered herself a warrior at home and her husband the warrior on the front; the two of them being an inseparable team.

In August, Sofia and Serhiy’s mother’s worst fears came true: she received the tragic news that her husband had died after coming in contact with an enemy mine. It nearly broke the family. The Children of Heroes Charity Fund stepped in immediately, providing them with warm clothes and shoes, while the children were given inspiring activities to help keep them occupied following the heartbreaking loss. In particular, the family is grateful that the children are receiving a quality education, with no such opportunities being available to them in their native village. Sofia is fond of drawing and studying English, while Serhiy dreams of attending sports clubs and one day owning a home in the city. Their heroic mother wishes to continue to work and provide for their children. Thanks to the Fund, the children will receive a better education and will have a brighter future ahead of them, despite the tragedy that the war has brought to the family.