Law Without Order

The Law of Ukraine "On Prevention and Combating Domestic Violence" provides protection for victims of economic, physical, and psychological abuse. Victims have the right to seek help from law enforcement agencies, which are obligated to ensure their safety and provide support.

But what happens when victims of economic, physical, and psychological abuse have neither the economic, physical, nor psychological means to reach out to law enforcement?

Here is a distressing case our Humanitarian Aid Center encountered. Judge for yourself—what prevails here: law or betrayal?

Oleksii Petrovych is an elderly man. His life passed in hard work and care for his only son. He believed he had earned peace and respect within his family circle—or so it seemed to him. However, even before the war, life had not been easy, and the war only sent it further downhill.

For several years, the man had been unwell and needed care, with his son being his only support. Oleksii Petrovych believed that a loved one would never abandon him.

But as the front line approached, the son packed his things and vanished into thin air, leaving his poor father in a semi-ruined house. Occasionally, neighbors brought him food, but he was unlikely to last long like that.

When the evacuation team of NGO “CNGD ‘Volunteer-68’” arrived in the village, they found him hungry and exhausted.

After evacuation, Oleksii Petrovych was housed in our shelter “Bez Mezh” (“Without Limits”). There, he received the necessary care, medical assistance, and—most importantly—human warmth. He gradually adapted to a new life, noticeably recovered, and began making plans for the future. We found him a decent shelter in Europe where he could feel comfortable.

However, during the paperwork process, it turned out that Oleksii Petrovych was listed in the Debtors' Register. This was a real shock for him—he had never taken any loans. The investigation revealed that his son, taking advantage of his father's helplessness, had taken out a large loan in his name and disappeared. Betrayed, the father was left not only abandoned but also burdened with debts he had no way of repaying.

Due to financial restrictions, going abroad became impossible. At that point, we had no choice but to stand by him. Our organization began looking for other solutions.

Eventually, we managed to find him a good geriatric facility in Ukraine, where he received all the necessary care, safety, and support.

Meanwhile, we handed the case over to a legal organization that took on the case of fraud committed by the son. This brought hope for justice and the restoration of Oleksii Petrovych's good name.

Today, our beneficiary is safe in a facility that guarantees him respectful and compassionate treatment.