Ronak Raval, a Polish citizen in Denmark, had just come back from a holiday in Kenya when he learned about Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
He told SBS Gujarati that his attention immediately turned to the women, children and students stranded in Ukraine.
Highlights:
- Indian-origin Polish citizen Ronak Raval helped a mother and her two-month-old baby to cross the Ukraine-Poland border.
- Ronak rented three houses for women and children in a town near the Ukraine border, paying three months in advance.
- 'I have accommodated 47 women and their kids, providing them with food, shelter and necessities,' he says.
“As soon as I learned about the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, I put a post on Facebook about my mission of helping those in need,” Ronak said.
“I drove almost 1,500 kilometres from Denmark to the Poland-Ukraine border to help a few stranded women and students clear immigration.”
LISTEN TO
ભારતીયમૂળના રોનકે જીવ જોખમમાં મૂકી યુક્રેનમાં પ્રવેશ કર્યો, માતા-બે મહિનાના બાળકને બચાવ્યા
SBS Gujarati
25/03/202214:13
Ronak Raval (C) helped Indian students resolve their embassy-related issues. Source: Supplied by: Ronak Raval
Renting safe houses
Ronak then decided to rent three houses near the Ukraine border - paying three months in advance.
“As the Ukraine government announced that the men aged 18 to 60 were prohibited from leaving the country, I quickly realised that the situation could worsen for women and children.”
With the temperature between -3 to -8, seeing women and children walking hundreds of kilometres to get out of Ukraine was heart-wrenching for me.
He explained that he got help from other volunteers to safely drop women and children at the rented accommodation.
“I have accommodated 47 women and their kids, providing them with food, shelter and necessities.”
Ronak explained that he went to the Polish border town of Medyka, where he helped some Indian students resolve their embassy-related issues, including translation, visa processing and medical reports.
Ronak went to the Poland-Ukraine border to help students with the immigration process. Source: Supplied by: Ronak Raval
“As the students didn't know the Polish language, I started helping them through the immigration process, including providing them with food and medical aid,” Ronak said.
Entering Ukraine to rescue a mother and two-month-old infant
Originally from Gujarat in India, Ronak lived in Poland for 14 years before migrating to Denmark.
He said he has helped hundreds of people cross the Ukraine-Poland border.
“While helping stranded people, I got a basic idea on how to clear immigration.
“I received a call about a woman stranded in Ukraine with her two-month-old infant.”
I was told the baby had not eaten for 12 hours. It broke my heart when I heard it, and I quickly accepted their request.
Ronak Raval (L) rescued a mother (R) and her two-month-old baby from war-torn Ukraine. Source: Supplied by: Ronak Raval
“The woman was waiting for me with her husband and baby at the pre-decided place. On return, there were more than 500 people ahead of us trying to cross the border.”
“I realised the infant's health was deteriorating so I shouted in Polish so that officers on the other side [Poland] could hear me.”
Luckily, one of the officers heard Ronak's call for help and asked him about his nationality.
“I told the police officer that I am a Polish citizen," Ronak said, explaining that it was the best chance to bring the woman and her child to safety.
Ronak requested the woman's husband not to speak to the police officer. Instead, he claimed it was his baby, and eventually, a police officer agreed to allow them into Poland.
Thanks to Ronak being a Polish citizen, and a familiar face for immigration officials, they were able to clear immigration within five minutes when "usually it would take five to seven hours".
We also got an ambulance service within five minutes and the baby was treated by doctors.
Still helping people remotely
“I am sending medicine and healthy food to people living in the accommodation I have already rented for three months,” said Ronak.
After helping hundreds of people, Ronak has returned to Denmark. However, he still supports them remotely.
