Ukrainian Orphan Hosted By Tulsa Family Rescued, Safe In Poland

News On 6 has a happy update to a story about a Tulsa family who hosted an orphan from Ukraine: The family got her the help needed to escape to safety. Alan and Jennifer Page said someone saw the News On 6 report from February 25 and connected them to an intelligence group with evacuation operations in Ukraine. In a virtual interview, 22-year-old Svitlana Kovernyuk said if it was not for her Oklahoma family, she would still be living in fear.

Wednesday, March 16th 2022, 10:20 pm

By: Chinh Doan

TULSA, Oklahoma -

In a virtual interview, 22-year-old Svitlana Kovernyuk said if it was not for her Oklahoma family, she would still be living in fear.

"I am feeling right now better because I am staying in a safe place with good people," explained Kovernyuk.

Kovernyuk was rescued by The North Group, a global intelligence, and security firm headquartered in Michigan. Natasha Ryan with The North Group said it took three tries to get Kovernyuk from her village in Ukraine to Poland.

"So, we did hit snags along roadways when there were convoys,” said Ryan. “So, we adjusted the timetable. It took a few attempts, not actually people trying to get her, just for our people to get to her, and we were finally able to do that."

The Pages paid an undisclosed amount of money for the operation.

"We would have done it for any of our kids,” said Jennifer Page. “You do whatever you have to do. I would have sold everything in my house to make it happen.”

The Page Family has considered Kovernyuk one of their own after hosting her for the summer in 2014 and 2015. Kovernyuk lost both of her biological parents at a young age, so the Page Family has been helping her for years.

"We're super happy that we could do it for one person,” said Alan Page. “If there's any sad side, it's the vast number of people who still need help."

Kovernyuk said she is grateful for all the love and support and calls for action.

"We just want calm and peace and live a normal life, and stop killing our children," said Kovernyuk.

Kovernyuk said she plans to move to Canada when she's able.

"You deserve a way that you can have a full life and do what you want to do and be successful, and I know you will be,” Jennifer Page said to Kovernyuk.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for an immigration attorney to get Kovernyuk out of Poland and to also help her resettle.

Click here if you'd like to donate to the GoFundMe.