Ukraine's surprise local hero

On 24th February 2022, Russia started a war in Ukraine. Many people had to leave their homes. But many stayed in the country. A Japanese tourist started helping these people.

Fuminori Tsukiko is 75 years old. He was a tourist in Poland. He heard about the war in Ukraine. He helped people in Kyiv, and then in Kharkiv.

Fuminori Tsukiko: "Kyiv and rebuild and Kharkiv – very good, very good. I like, I love Ukraine."

In Kharkiv, people lived underground. Tsukiko stayed with them. The children loved him. Zoya Reshetnyak wa s there too.

Zoya Reshetnyak: "He was sleeping next to us, talking to children, and they would understand him. They played together and children would hang on to him. He delved into our lives – lived through everything with us."

Tsukiko spent 9 months underground in Kharkiv. He cooked breakfast for the people. He asked people in Japan for money. He bought people food and medicines.

Now, people are in their homes again. But they'll never forget Tsukiko.

Tsukiko is on social media. He's asking for money to help. He has got lots of love for the people of Ukraine. He's a hero in Kharkiv.

Fuminori Tsukiko: "I support by Japan. Many, many people support in Ukraine people – very good, very good. I don't escape, I don't escape. I lived in Kharkiv – not come back to Japan." View Less