Kyiv psychologist rescued on Dniester reunited with family in Bulgaria

Rescuers save refugee's life

Oleksiy Koval, a 49-year-old psychologist from Kyiv who was previously saved by local residents in Moldova during a dangerous crossing of the Dniester, has finally reunited with his family in Bulgaria. The man stated that two Moldovan citizens helped him out of the water when he nearly drowned.

Account of pursuit and health condition

According to Oleksiy, Ukrainian border guards pursued him and beat him on multiple occasions. The man also suffers from deep vein thrombosis. He admitted that for eight months he had been afraid to leave his home due to the threat of mobilisation after his documents exempting him from military service had expired.

Gratitude to rescuers

«Якби не ви, я б не побачив свою родину. Ви назавжди в моєму серці» ("If it were not for you, I would not have seen my family. You are forever in my heart"), Oleksiy thanked the residents of Moldova for their assistance. Currently, the circumstances of the alleged beating by border guards are presented solely based on the man's own account.