An 11-year-old Ukrainian boy named Hassan was treated to a hero’s welcome in Slovakia this week, when he crossed the border after traveling 1,000 kilometers (roughly 620 miles) alone, fleeing the war with Russia. His mother had sent him to safety, unable to leave herself.
“The boy came all alone with a plastic bag, passport and a telephone number written on his hand,” the Slovak Embassy in the U.K. said, in a Facebook posting about Hassan’s trek. Officials praised him for “his smile, fearlessness and determination of a real hero.”
Interior Minister Roman Mikulec says Hassan and his siblings have asked for temporary protection, posting images showing him meeting with the boy and other children at a table with snacks and sodas.
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
