Saved from Popasnaya: A Family Story of Devotion

Provision of intersectoral humanitarian aid to the population affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

55-year-old Andriy Saprykin, a deputy senior pastor of the church from Dnipro, received help from the charitable foundation “Arms of Mercy” during the war. But his story begins long before that.

Andrii Anatoliyovych comes from the town of Popasna in the Luhansk region. After studying at the Kharkiv Aviation Institute, he moved to Dnipro, where he started a family. “My life is a service,” Mr. Andriy says about his work in the church.

When the war started, Andrii Anatoliyovych’s mother remained in Popasna, despite the danger. The man and his family decided to stay in Dnipro to support and help people. But the fate of the mother did not give him rest. He couldn`t contact her and realized that he had to act. “At some point, the decision was made that it was necessary to go and make my mother move in some way, even if by force, but save her and make her move … “, Mr. Andrii recalls.

He went on a life-threatening journey, on the way through Bakhmut he got under fire and missile strikes. On March 25, 2022, the day after his mother’s birthday, he found her in the basement of the house. “She was in such desperation that she said: “If you had not found me, I would have lost my mind. Because there are shelling, and shelling, and shelling,” recalls Mr. Andriy.

Later, on April 11, the pastor’s family was joined by his cousin’s two children, who also managed to escape from Popasna. But their mother ended up not being able to leave the occupied territory, and their father and older half-brother died during shelling. “So now we have a family of nine people,” concludes Andriy.

Andriy talks about how his family adapts to new circumstances: “They are one of us. I don’t expect them to call us mom and dad, but we love them. The older girl is studying at the university, it’s her third year of studying to become a teacher, and the boy will turn 13 in May. Due to the lack of knowledge about the fate of the parents, the man cannot issue custody of the children. “Some moment will come, there may be some questions. We just don’t know what will happen. We live in the moment,” he says.

The family learned about the financial assistance provided by the “Arms of Mercy” charitable foundation from friends. “Getting these funds was a real salvation, because the mother left with only two bags, and the children with no belongings at all,” recalls Mr. Andrii.

When asked about dreams, the protagonist of this story answers: “For the war to end. “Children have the prospect of living peacefully, studying, and arranging their personal lives.”

This touching story shows how love and care can unite people even in the most difficult times. Mr. Andrii and his wife not only invited the children of their deceased brother into their family but also surrounded them with warmth and support. Despite all difficulties, they continue to hope for a better future for their children and believe in the victory of good.

The “Arms of Mercy” charity foundation expresses its sincere gratitude to its partners, without whom the implementation of this project would not be possible. We are grateful to the international organization World Vision for fruitful cooperation and support in assisting families affected by the war. A special thanks to USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and Acted for the financial assistance, thanks to which we were able to provide the families with the necessary food, clothing, and other necessities.

Thank you for your trust and cooperation!