As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, the attacks on civilians show no sign of slowing. Cities continue to be bombed, families displaced, and lives shattered. What began in 2022 as a military operation has become a relentless campaign against homes, schools, and the very fabric of Ukrainian society.
One of those cities was Popasna, in Ukraine’s Luhansk region. On February 24, 2022—the day the war began—the Andriienko family, longtime foster parents, fled their home with the children in their care. They left behind everything, escaping a city that has since been reduced to rubble.
But what they carried with them could not be destroyed: love, resilience, and a powerful commitment to protect Ukraine’s most vulnerable—its children.
A Family Built on Love and Care
For more than 15 years, the Andriienko family has opened their hearts and home to children who need it most. What began as foster care in 2007 became a registered family-type children’s home in 2016. Since then, they’ve raised more than a dozen children—offering stability, compassion, and the chance to grow up surrounded by love. One of the children they raised now fosters children of her own, continuing the legacy that shaped her life.
Today, the family is raising seven remarkable children between the ages of 9 and 17. Each of them has experienced loss—whether through war, abandonment, or family separation. But here, in this home, they’ve found safety and belonging.
All of the children attend their local public school and are working hard to keep up with their studies despite the disruptions of war. Among them are three boys with a passion for music. They study guitar, piano, and accordion at a nearby School of Arts, and music has become more than a subject—it’s a source of healing and joy during uncertain times.
The Urgent Needs of a Family Affected by War
Like many families in Ukraine, the Andriienkos are living through the harsh realities of a war that reaches far beyond the frontlines. Daily power outages—often lasting 12 hours or more—disrupt even the most basic routines. For the children, these blackouts make it nearly impossible to keep up with schoolwork, attend virtual lessons, or stay connected to the outside world.
In the cold months, the challenges multiply. Without stable electricity, staying warm, cooking meals, or finding light to study becomes a daily struggle. Yet through it all, the family remains focused on giving the children a sense of normalcy and hope.
They’ve worked hard to create a nurturing home—planting and harvesting their own fruits and vegetables, encouraging the children’s love for music, and doing all they can to make life feel steady. But without essential tools, even the most determined efforts have limits.
What they needed most was not luxury, but support: ways to help the children continue learning, stay warm and safe, and pursue the activities that bring them comfort and confidence in a world that has taken so much.
Standing Strong Against Destruction
The Andriienkos’ story is just one among thousands. But it illustrates the extraordinary courage and compassion of those who continue to build a better future for Ukraine’s children in the face of destruction.
“Your help is invaluable—it restores faith in kindness and compassion,” they wrote to us.
At Ukraine Power, we support families like the Andriienkos—those who have lost everything yet continue to give everything. Through your help, we can provide the tools they need to survive, rebuild, and thrive.
