11-year-old who fled Ukraine reunites with mother in Slovakia

The mother of an 11-year-old child who escaped Ukraine with just a phone number scribbled on his palm has been reunited with him.

Hassan Pisecká’s photo went viral earlier this month when he travelled 750 miles from his village in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, to Slovakia’s capital Bratislava with nothing but a plastic bag, a passport, and a phone number scribbled on his hand.

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Julia Pisecká, the boy’s mother, stayed behind while Russia continued its onslaught on Ukraine to care for her mother, who was unable to evacuate.

Officials were taken by Hassan’s “smile, fearlessness, and determination” as he arrived at the border. They used the phone number and a letter tied around his waist to contact his family in Slovakia to reunite him with his four siblings.

Hassan told Good Morning Britain that he “isn’t worried about the future” and is happy to be “safe.”

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Hassan’s sister did the translation for him, saying: “The most important thing, he adds, is to be in a place where he has a family. He likes living in this city because it is safe. He has no idea about the future because he is unaware of the situation in Ukraine. He doesn’t care about the future; he simply wants to remain with us.”

Hassan’s sister explained that the train journey was the scariest part of his journey as it was “very, very full,” with “300 people in one carriage.”

Hassan’s mother, grandmother, and family dog had all fled to join Hassan and his four siblings.

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The Sun quoted Julia, a widow, as saying, “The train ride was very difficult. Hundreds were crammed in a single car. But we had to escape so our family could be back together. I’d like to thank everyone from my heart. We have to start from scratch. We lost everything we’ve had but we’re healthy.”

Hassan’s family evacuated Syria years ago, leaving behind his father. The family relocated to Julia’s native Ukraine.

According to the Slovakian Police, “They lost everything again, but this time the conflict did not take away anyone. All that counts is that they are together.”