Timofy is forced to grow up in the midst of war
Thirteen-year-old Timofyj has been forced to leave his home twice because of the war in Ukraine. Each time, he has had to start from scratch. He loses contact with his friends, and his childhood is replaced by responsibility.
For Timofy, everything changed when Russia invaded eastern Ukraine in 2014 and his family was forced to leave their home in Donetsk. He was young, but remembers the sudden upheaval when his family fled to Myrnohrad, a town further away from the fighting.
After the move, Timofy's father died in an accident. He was left behind with his mother, little brother, and a lot of responsibility.
"I didn't really understand what I was supposed to do. I just listened to my mother, listened to the news, and tried to follow all the rules that were in place because of the war," says Timofyj.
I just listened to my mother, listened to the news, and tried to follow all the rules that were in place because of the war.
Timofy and his little brother.
Timofy and his little brother.
Forced into a new everyday life
When Russia launched its large-scale invasion in 2022, Myrnohrad, the family's new home, ended up close to the front line. A shell hit the house where they lived and they were forced to flee again. Timofyj had to quickly leave school and all his friends behind.
"The war has caused me to lose touch with my friends. I hardly talk to those I don't go to school with anymore. Some of them I don't even remember," says Timofyj.
Today, he lives with his mother and younger brother in the Kiev region and is trying to rebuild a secure everyday life.
The war has caused me to lose contact with my friends.
Childhood was exchanged for responsibility
His father's death and the escape from Donetsk meant that Timofyj had to take on a greater role at home at an early age.
"I take care of my little brother and help out with whatever I can. I'm kind of my mom's right-hand man," says Timofyj.
In the midst of his new everyday life, he still tries to live like a normal teenager with school, friends, and free time.
Timofyj with his little brother.
Timofyj in one of the child-friendly family hubs.
Timofyj with his little brother.
Timofyj in one of the child-friendly family hubs.
A chance to think about something other than the war
Together with the local organization WCU, Erikshjälpen works to give children the opportunity to escape the war for a while and just be children.
In child-friendly family hubs, children can socialize with friends, engage in creative activities, and receive support from psychologists to process what they have experienced. All activities are organized in shelters so that they can continue even during air raid alerts.
Here, Timofyj can momentarily let go of all the responsibilities that war brings and just be himself: a teenager.
"My brother and I really like it. It's fun and exciting, and it's cool to get to do something interesting," says Timofyj.
Timofy's thoughts on the future
Even though Timofyj finds it difficult to imagine life after the war, he still has dreams.
– I want to understand more about IT, about different codes, and earn money from it. But I don't know yet what you have to do to achieve that.
Many children fleeing Ukraine
In 2025, the war in Ukraine intensified and spread to more areas. Since June 2025, approximately 150,000 people have been evacuated from the front lines. More than 16,500 of them are children.
Today, there are around 3.8 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine. Many lack electricity, water, and heating in their homes. The large-scale invasion has not only caused damage and death, it has also forced thousands of children to take on adult responsibilities far too early.
Published: 20 February 2026
Listening 