Support Family Forced to Flee Russia & US ICE: Lost Home Twice, Need Stability Now

Hi, we are Marina and Sergey Pravda, refugees from Russia that fled amidst the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.

While in Russia I was an independent content creator on youtube and science communicator that focused on amphibians, while Sergey owned and worked in his own auto repair shop.

We have always strived to live honestly and independently. However, we humbly ask for your help after a series of events that forced us to lose our home twice and start over from scratch.

WHAT HAPPENED

Nearly four years ago, we were forced to urgently leave Russia because of our anti-war position, which is illegal there. I was also pregnant at the time, and desperately seeking protection, which led us to apply for political asylum in the United States, where our daughter Marina Nina was born as an American citizen.

Over three years living in America, we gradually got back on our feet, found a new home, made friends who became family, and rebuilt our lives. Sergey found work as an auto mechanic and I made work through my passions of photography and amphibian breeding. We partaked in Thanksgivings, Christmases, birthdays, Russian Easters, camping trips and so much more with our newfound family and it truly began to feel like home.

That is when Sergey was unlawfully detained by ICE. On March 27th, 2025, Sergey received a call from ICE stating he had not replied to their letters and requested that he come down to the station. We had moved apartments in January, and had our attorney promptly notify ICE of our new address as required. Despite this, ICE sent letters to our old address and failed to provide a copy of the letters they claim to have sent. Sergey voluntarily went down to the station, was questioned for hours and eventually arrested under the pretense that he had not replied to the letters. He was brought to a detention center in McFarland; over 250 miles away from our home, leaving me alone to care for our daughter and determine how to reunite our family.

Fearing that I would also be unlawfully detained and our daughter would be left alone, we had no choice but to request departure to a third country. While this request was granted, we were given just two weeks to end our apartment lease early, deal with our belongings, and say our goodbyes to those who had become dear to us.

That is how we ended up in Serbia, once again without a home, belongings, or stable income.

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

We are deeply grateful to our family and friends for their incredible support — only thanks to them did we manage the sudden second relocation to Serbia. Without their help, we wouldn't have made it.

To make the initial move to the United States, we sold Sergey’s auto repair shop, our home, our cars, and other belongings — everything we had worked for over many years.

This sudden relocation to Serbia has left us with almost nothing to cover the costs of starting over again.

Our local income doesn't even cover basic expenses.

We arrived with almost nothing: minimum of clothing and toys for the baby, no essential household items. Our credit cards are heavily in debt and for now, we can't even think about earning enough to apply for a new US visa to go back home or challenge the unjust ICE detention.

As of this January, I received the opportunity of a lifetime; an invitation to join a group of documentary filmmakers who have extensive experience with wildlife and indigenous communities on a field expedition to Malaysia. This trip provides a chance to photograph rare amphibians and other wildlife, and learn from experienced professionals. Attending this expedition will help me further my career in countless ways, helping me and my family find a sustainable source of income to help raise our child and rebuild our lives.

HOW YOUR DONATION WILL HELP

Since relocating to Serbia, we have been struggling to stay financially afloat while raising our three year old daughter. This expedition will help me further my career and generate enough income to give our family a happier and more stable life.

So our main Goal is: $9,000

$5,000 — expedition participation and field logistics

$2,000 — international flights, local transport, and essential gear

The remainder of money raised will go to:

Basic support for my partner Sergey, who will care for our three-year-old daughter alone during the two weeks of the expedition.

Taxes and platform fees

But if the full amount is not reached in time,

every donation will directly help us cover basic essentials (rent, food, gas, clothes, utilities), reduce our relocation debt, and support the development of Marina’s career in alternative ways.

We are incredibly thankful for any help.

Please consider donating or sharing our story: your kindness means the world to our family and gives us a real chance to stabilize after losing everything twice.

Thank you for reading and sharing our story.

Marina, Sergey, and Marina Nina