The Mezhevyi Family – Separated by War in Ukraine

When war breaks out, the first victims are often not soldiers, but families—ordinary people forced to navigate extraordinary trauma. The Mezhevyi family of Mariupol, Ukraine, is a heart-wrenching example of how war tears families apart, not just geographically but emotionally. Their story illustrates the brutal effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the undying strength of a father’s love for his children.

A Life Interrupted

Before the war, Yevhen Mezhevyi was a single father living in Mariupol, raising his three children—Matvii (13), Sviatoslava (9), and Oleksandra (7). They led a quiet, normal life. Yevhen, a former Ukrainian soldier, had left military service and was focused on building a peaceful life for his children. But everything changed in February 2022, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine and Mariupol became one of the most devastated cities in the country.

As airstrikes and shelling engulfed the city, Yevhen and his children took shelter in a school basement, where dozens of others had also sought refuge. For weeks, they endured freezing temperatures, limited food and water, and the terror of constant bombing. Yevhen did everything he could to keep his children calm and hopeful. He improvised games and made up stories to distract them from the chaos outside.

Captured by Russian Forces

In late March, as Russian forces advanced deeper into Mariupol, the family attempted to evacuate. But at a checkpoint controlled by Russian troops, Yevhen was separated from his children and taken for interrogation. His prior military service immediately made him a suspect. Despite having left the army years before, the Russians viewed him as a potential threat.

He was sent to the Olenivka detention center in the Donetsk region, a place notorious for its harsh conditions and inhumane treatment. There, Yevhen spent 45 agonizing days. He was interrogated, beaten, and held in cramped, unsanitary cells with dozens of other prisoners. He had no idea where his children were or if they were even alive. His only thought, every single day, was whether he would ever see them again.

The Children Taken

While Yevhen was imprisoned, his three children were taken by Russian forces and transferred to a camp in the Moscow region. Separated from all family, the children were placed in a Russian-run facility and told their father had abandoned them. Officials began preparing them for adoption by Russian families—part of what has since been widely condemned as a campaign of child deportations and forced assimilation.

Despite their young ages, the Mezhevyi children held onto hope. Matvii, the oldest, understood more than he let on and kept reassuring his sisters that their father would find them. The Russian staff at the facility tried to erase their Ukrainian identity, telling them they would be better off in Russia. But Matvii remained defiant, insisting on speaking Ukrainian and reminding his sisters who they were.

A Father’s Mission

Once released from Olenivka, Yevhen immediately began searching for his children. With the help of Ukrainian and international human rights activists, he learned they had been taken to Russia. The journey to get them back would not be easy. Traveling from Ukraine into Russia during wartime is dangerous and politically fraught. But Yevhen didn’t hesitate.

Through a complex network of NGOs and volunteers, Yevhen was smuggled into Russia via Belarus. From there, he made his way to the Moscow region, where he was finally reunited with his children. The moment they saw each other again was overwhelming. The children ran into his arms, and they cried together for a long time. They had survived one of the worst nightmares imaginable—but they were finally together again.

Rebuilding in Exile

The Mezhevyi family couldn’t return to Mariupol. The city was destroyed, and Russian occupation made it unsafe. Instead, they fled to Latvia, where they were granted temporary asylum. In Riga, they began to rebuild their lives. The trauma they endured remained heavy, but they had each other—and that was enough to begin again.

Matvii started attending school and resumed wrestling, a sport he loved before the war. His medal, miraculously recovered during their journey, hangs in their small apartment, a reminder of both past strength and future promise. Sviatoslava and Oleksandra began adjusting to school life in Latvia, slowly learning the language and making friends. Yevhen found work and remained involved in advocacy efforts for other Ukrainian families who had lost contact with their children.

A Symbol of a Larger Crisis

The Mezhevyi family’s ordeal is emblematic of a much larger, deeply troubling phenomenon. Thousands of Ukrainian children have reportedly been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories since the war began. Many have been placed in orphanages or given to Russian families for adoption. The Ukrainian government, international NGOs, and even the International Criminal Court have called this a violation of international law, possibly amounting to war crimes.

In March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, accusing them of orchestrating the deportation of Ukrainian children. The Mezhevyi children were among the lucky few who were rescued in time. Many others remain lost, their identities erased, their families unable to reach them.

Love in the Face of War

The story of the Mezhevyi family is not just about loss—it is about love, courage, and unwavering commitment. It is about a father who refused to let war take his children. It is about three children who, despite attempts to erase their identity and family ties, never stopped believing in their father’s return.

In the face of one of the greatest humanitarian crises in recent history, their story offers a glimmer of hope. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments, the bonds of family can endure. It also challenges the international community to do more—not only to reunite families but to hold those responsible for their suffering accountable.

As the war in Ukraine continues, the Mezhevyi family carries forward, a living testament to resilience, love, and the power of never giving up. Their journey is not just a personal saga—it is a call to action and a symbol of everything at stake when politics and violence tear families apart.