The decision to flee from home in time of war is always traumatic, but especially so when one of the family suffers from disability.  With their 11-year-old daughter Polina in a wheelchair, it was only at the last minute that Sasha and Nastia decided to evacuate their family from Kherson.  By that time Russian soldiers were already in the city. 

They bundled their children into the car and set off for the Moldovan border, but were stopped by the Russians and had their car taken away. 

“It was an incredibly frightening experience for them,” says Pastor Dumitru Sevastian who has been assisting Ukrainian refugees at Bethany Baptist Church in Chisinau since the end of February.  “Some people took pity on them and helped them to reach the border with their children and all their things. 

“Since Nastia’s parents had already passed through Bethany, they called us and we were able to give them all the help and support they needed – food, accommodation and counselling.  They are very grateful for this expression of love and care for them and want to thank you for your support.”