A group of children without parents are running out of time, as Russia keeps attacking a city in Ukraine where they live.
Old and decaying docks from the Soviet era in Izmail and Reni are being attacked by suicide drones. This is happening because the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, decided to leave the UN and a deal made with Turkey that allowed Ukraine to safely export grain through the Black Sea.
In the last two months, Fight for Freedom, a group from Romania, has been trying to move children away from danger, but rules and red tape are making it difficult.
President Gheorghe Ignat said it is very important for his team to fight for freedom.
However, he knows very well that Russian aggression is getting closer and closer to his country, Romania, which is a member of both the EU and NATO. This makes the people of Romania fear that they will be drawn into a war.
Izmail experienced a big problem two weeks ago. He said that Russia has been bombing everything there.
There are currently 20 children without parents living in a home. We are working very hard to prepare the documents for moving them to the Suceava area in Romania where we are located.
‘They could get hurt here, so it’s very important for us to take them to a safe place. ‘
Gheorghe, a fighter who does mixed martial arts and is called ‘The Carpathian Bear’, is currently busy arranging the move from Ukraine to his home country.
While we are talking, his phone keeps receiving frequent updates about what is happening on the front line.
In Romania, people are feeling anxious and worried.
The government installed protective shelters in Plauru because Ukrainian sites were attacked and drone pieces were found in Romania.
The town is very close to Izmail, only about 300 meters away.
Currently, there are no official plans to make people leave their homes in the area. However, many residents have packed bags with essential items in case they need to leave quickly.
He said, “Romania is going through a difficult time. ” Both the government and Nato have taken their response very seriously.
Recently, we discovered another drone that was found about 14km within our borders. This is a significant distance considering the presence of nearby villages with many people living just a few kilometers away.
The drones blew up and made big holes in the ground. Just think about what would happen if they had fallen on a house, school, or hospital.
Romania is not currently fighting in a war. We are waiting to see what will occur, but there is currently no action to take. People are scared about the consequences of getting involved.
The Black Sea has many Russian warships that are very near our country. People who live near the river feel like they are in the middle of a war.
They watch and record Russian drones attacking Ukrainian ports every night. They are looking at big bangs in villages nearby on the other side of the river.
They are very surprised and scared. Romania is no longer secure as a member of the EU and Nato. This is true. Some people think if Nato helps, the war will end. But it’s not that simple.
Regular individuals go through difficulties. I have seen a lot of pain and hardship in the last year and a half. War brings no positive outcomes or benefits.
Romania’s leader, Marcel Ciolacu, has tried to reassure people that Russia is not focusing on their country.
He made his remarks right when another military drone was found in Bulgaria, which is another country in the EU and NATO.
The military said the plane landed in the town of Tyulenovo by the Black Sea on Sunday evening.
The defense minister, Todor Tagarev, said that we can be sure the event is connected to the war Russia started against Ukraine.
‘This war is definitely connected to more dangers for our safety. ’
The group Fight for Freedom is getting ready to help many people if Russia attacks the coast of Romania.
Since the invasion started, Gheorghe and his team have been going to villages on the frontline in Ukraine four times every week. They give food to as many as 10,000 people.
Bundles of supplies are given out to people who had to leave their homes in Mariupol and Donetsk. This is done at locations in Chernivtsi, Dunaivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Fight for Freedom operates four centers for Ukrainian children, ranging from newborns to five-year-olds. They have also rescued over 500 orphans from dangerous areas in the past 15 months.