A group of Ukrainian children recently experienced a break from the ongoing conflict in their homeland by embarking on an exciting tour across the United States.

“We began our journey in Boston and then traveled to Florida. Seeing America has been incredible,” shared Oksana Yefmenko, a mother accompanying the group from Ukraine.

The children enjoyed a quintessentially American experience, which included witnessing the spectacular Blue Angels, visiting Washington, D.C., spending a magical day at Disney World, and even enjoying a night of trick-or-treating through suburban neighborhoods.

“One child walking beside me said, ‘Can you pinch me? It feels like a dream. I just want to be sure I’m really here,'” recounted Ukrainian activist Tetiana Chupryna.

This journey provided a stark contrast to their usual reality, where the sound of sirens forces them into shelters, and attending school is fraught with danger, preventing them from easily forming friendships.

“Some fathers were volunteers, some fathers were frontline fighters, and all the children here, they don’t have fathers,” Chupryna said.

“Kids and women are the ones who suffer the most during any war and there’s no exception in Ukraine,” said IGas CEO and donor Ben Meng.

Chupryna arranged this trip with the help of local businessman Ben Meng. Chupryna translated for Channel 8 to talk to one of the mothers.

“It was very hard for them to survive and live after losing their loved ones,” Yefmenko said.

While Russia and Ukraine remain locked in a stalemate, Yefmenko says they found a dream here to take back with them.

“We’re not alone and everyone is helping us,” said Yefmenko. “This has given us hope that in the future something will change and we will have peace in our country.”

The group will head back to Ukraine Monday night.