Escaping Pokrovsk: Support Point evacuates family of 8
The city of Pokrovsk, located in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, has long been a focal point of conflict. Many residents had already fled, but as the fighting intensified and the “ring of fire” closed in on the city, the mandatory evacuation of those who remained became unavoidable. Among them was Kateryna, a mother of six, who was overwhelmed by the abrupt upheaval and unable to afford the costly commercial evacuation services. With assistance from Hungarian Interchurch Aid’s (HIA) Ukraine Humanitarian Fund (UHF) – financed support points, however, Kateryna and her family managed to flee the besieged city, bringing along most of their belongings.
Raising six children, making ends meet has never been an easy task for Kateryna and her husband Ivan. However, the situation became especially dire when authorities announced the mandatory evacuation of their hometown and Ivan’s salary (he works as a miner) was delayed by a month. “We waited a long time for my husband’s salary, but all in vain. It was a very difficult time. We had no money to move, we were thinking about fleeing just with our backpacks and leaving everything behind.” – remembers Kateryna.
Determined to find a solution, Ivan secured a new job in Kryvyi Rih, which came with accommodations. “He went ahead of us,” says Kateryna, her voice heavy with emotion as she recounts those days. “I felt like we were trapped, with nowhere to run or hide. We had no money, my husband was far away, and the explosions and shelling were constant. Half the night, we sat awake on the bed, too afraid to sleep. I distracted the children with cartoons to ease their fear.”
Meanwhile, Kateryna was pulling all strings to find a solution to move out of Pokrovsk with everything needed to care for her large family. “Fortunately, we got a call from HIA’s support point operator. She told us that they can move us with all of our belongings. Frankly speaking, this saved us, because it became extremely loud and dangerous in Pokrovsk. Our windows were already shattered by the shockwaves, and something also hit the neighbouring house. We just couldn’t stay any longer, so the help in evacuation was vital to us” – she says.
The family’s evacuation through the Dobropillya support point is part of HIA’s UHF-funded response, which focuses on assisting those who remain close to the frontlines. Across 20 support points in the hard-to-reach locations of Donetska, Khersonska, and Zaporizka oblasts, HIA not only facilitates evacuations but provides multisectoral assistance based on local needs. In total, these support points have benefitted almost 30 thousand people: 3274 were helped with evacuation or transport requests, 10,251 participated in protection counselling, 505 received legal assistance, 5646 were referred to other aid organisations, 8444 received food and hygiene kits in 3 instalments, while 1833 people in need received help in form of cash assistance.
Coordinating the family’s escape required precise planning from HIA’s support point, as the town endured near-constant artillery fire and airstrikes. During a brief lull, the family boarded a minibus—Ivan and the driver sat up front, while Kateryna cradled newborn Andrii in her arms. The older children, Oleksandra and Serhiy, held the younger ones, Anatolii (2 years old), Mykhailo (3 years old), and Ivan (6 years old), tightly in the back. Together, they made their way to Kryvyi Rih, accompanied by a truck carrying their belongings.
While they have reached safety, the sense of security remains elusive. Kateryna acknowledges that it may take months for her family, especially the younger children, to adjust to their new environment. “I still feel completely uncertain. We’re trying to relax after all that shelling,” she says. “I hope this feeling will pass. I don’t know what the future holds. If Kryvyi Rih is attacked, we may have to move again. For now, though, it’s much calmer here Thank you for getting us out of Pokrovsk.”
