A teen fled Russian occupation and became a hero in Ukraine : NPR

Ivan Sarancha, 18, who left Luhansk after 11 years of living under occupation, stands in front of a memorial for the fallen at Maidan Square — where the pro-Europe uprising known as the “Revolution of Dignity” took place in February 2014 — in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 26.

Anton Shtuka for NPR

hide caption

toggle caption

Anton Shtuka for NPR

KYIV, Ukraine — Ivan Sarancha was 7 when Ukrainian literature and history classes disappeared from his school. That was in 2014 after Russian President Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea and began to foment separatist unrest in his eastern Donbas region of Ukraine.

Sarancha says he was too young to realize what was going on back then. But his eyes were fully opened with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine eight years later. By then Sarancha was 15. He says he was deeply shocked by Russia’s destruction of the port city of Mariupol and its massacre of civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.

“I began to develop critical thinking,” says Sarancha. “I watched the Russian news and compared it with Ukrainian and American news that I could see using a VPN [an online virtual private network]. And I figured out what was true and what was false. It was just common sense.”

That’s when Sarancha also began to think about running away from occupied territory to free Ukraine.

The story of this shy 18-year-old’s escape from enemy territory to what he calls “the country and culture of his birth” has turned him into a media star and is inspiring a war-weary nation.

It is also providing Ukrainians with a rare opportunity to see life in a region that has been isolated for a long time, along with a glimmer of hope. The region of Luhansk, along with neighboring Donetsk, became gray zones after Kremlin-backed separatists declared independence from Ukraine in 2014 and established the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics through referendums. Sarancha, who was young at the time, did not realize that this was Putin’s retaliation for the pro-European uprising in Kyiv’s Maidan Square earlier that year, known as “the Revolution of Dignity.”

Living in Luhansk, Sarancha describes an atmosphere of fear and lack of political and public activity due to the consequences of expressing any opinion. People are particularly afraid of being taken to “the basement” for interrogation. The invasion led to an influx of Russians in Luhansk, resulting in significant changes in the city, including the display of Russian flags, even with Putin’s face on them.

Despite most young people in his age group supporting Ukraine over Russia, they are hesitant to openly express their views. Sarancha joined pro-Ukraine groups online and only felt safe speaking Ukrainian with his internet friends due to the risks associated with speaking it publicly. He had to conceal his views from his parents, who believed Russian propaganda, including false claims about Ukraine’s involvement in atrocities like the ones in Bucha.

Considering escaping, Sarancha noticed flyers offering help to leave Luhansk and Donetsk, indicating a desire among many to flee the Russian-occupied territories. There are organizations like “Helping to Leave” that assist people in escaping from these regions, with individuals like Kate, a Russian working in this field, facing significant risks due to the nature of their work.

To reach Ukraine from the occupied territories, individuals must pass through Russia or a third country, such as Belarus, facing thorough interrogation and searches at the Russian border, known as “filtration.” Kate describes the process as frightening, highlighting the challenges and dangers faced by those seeking to escape the conflict-affected areas. The process of leaving Russian-occupied Ukraine is dangerous and restrictive, with people being detained for various reasons. Kate noted that it’s increasingly difficult to escape, with only a few hundred managing to do so last year compared to thousands in 2023. One individual, Sarancha, carefully planned his escape by replacing his pro-Ukrainian phone content with pro-Russian material, saving money, and convincing his parents to let him travel to Rostov-on-Don. From there, he secretly made his way to Moscow and eventually to Minsk, where he sought refuge at the Ukrainian Embassy. His biggest fear was his parents discovering his plans and alerting the authorities. The flag was enormous and stunning. Tears welled up in my eyes as I gazed at it. It had been since my first-grade days that I had seen that flag.

There are Ukrainians eagerly awaiting liberation in that place.