Photos and videos of soldiers returning home after days in war and conflict zones are always special. Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, has supplemented the list of such heartwarming images with a video of a soldier returning home during the Russian invasion and receiving a warm welcome from a child, presumably her son.
The video begins with the soldier getting out of a car in front of her house while a child waits at the gate. The little one has his face in his hands, apparently so happy to have his mother back that he doesn’t know how to react to that special moment. The soldier takes the child in her arms. Their pet, equally excited, jumps around them.
Mr Gerashchenko shared the video, saying: “This is what we are fighting for.”
This is what we fight for. pic.twitter.com/nX6Lxd3sN6
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) July 19, 2022
Commenting on the video, one user said, “This short video filled my heart with happiness!”
This short video filled my heart with happiness!
– Fueled by coffee ???????? (@CitiMutts) July 19, 2022
Another person commented, “I think my 6-year-old gets anxious when my wife isn’t around and it breaks my heart that these kids in Ukraine are dealing with this.”
I think my 6 year old gets anxious when my wife is not around and it breaks my heart that these kids in Ukraine are dealing with this.
— Michael ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ???? (@settlecynic) July 19, 2022
“Aww. I hope the dog got their hugs too,” said one comment.
Aww, I hope the doggy got their hugs too
— Defend Ukraine (@down_with_putin) July 20, 2022
Someone related a similar experience and said: “That is heartwarming, but also a hard lump in the throat. When my husband came home from broadcast and missed 9 months of Little Quidamity Quokka’s life, she didn’t want to give him the hugs she gave the local postman. She didn’t know him. Those sacrifices are reflected here.”
That’s heartwarming – but also a hard lump in the throat. When my husband came home from a broadcast after missing 9 months of Little QuidamityQuokka’s life she wouldn’t give him the hugs she gave the local postman???? She didn’t know him. Those sacrifices are reflected here xx
— TheQuidamityQuokka (@pombearinoz) July 20, 2022
Gerashchenko had previously shared a video of a Ukrainian soldier returning to his family. The soldier was seen greeting his family with flowers, with tears and a smile.
Dad came home from the war – 2. pic.twitter.com/iOZORtnUSL
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) July 9, 2022
The Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February this year and has displaced thousands of Ukrainians, even as the country continues to fight valiantly.