A brave Ukrainian boy who fled before,
A brave Ukrainian boy who fled before the Russian invasion has been reunited with his hero father.
After returning home, the young Ukrainian boy whose emotional separation from his hero father became one of the iconic images of the country’s suffering under Russian invasion has finally been reunited with him.
Ruslan Gladkiy, 35, feared he’d never see his wife, son, or daughter again after loading them onto a train to safety in February.
Driver Ruslan, who stayed behind to aid his country’s fight back against Moscow’s onslaught, was photographed kissing nine-year-old Hordiy goodbye at Lviv station and telling him, “Be brave for your mother.”
Hordiy was brave, and three months later, he has finally been able to hug his father again.
“I was so happy to see my family again,” Ruslan told the Mirror. We haven’t seen one another in three months. We could video call and talk on the phone, but seeing and holding my wife and children again was incredible. We love our country and want to live in peace and happiness.”
Ruslan made the decision to flee the country as soon as the Russian army invaded.
He drove them to Lviv’s train station and, despite chaotic scenes, managed to secure tickets to Budapest for his wife Halyna, 37, Hordiy, and their four-year-old daughter Emilia. They eventually arrived in Italy and stayed with relatives. Nonetheless, despite the risks, they have returned.
