Proserpine mother Yuliia Kuzma leaves for war-torn Ukraine to rescue 12yo son

The war in Ukraine has devastated Yuliia Kuzma's family in Proserpine, North Queensland.  (ABC Tropical North: Angel Parsons)

With a heavy heart but the highest of hopes, an Australian mother is on her way towards a war zone and the son she hasn't been able to hold in years.

Yuliia Kuzma is this weekend leaving the quiet streets of Proserpine in North Queensland for a city in central Ukraine, where she hopes to reunite with 12-year-old Maxim.

"It's very important to me to rescue my son, from Ukraine, from all of this war," Ms Kuzma said.

Ms Kuzma went to Ukraine in 2018 to start the process of adopting Maxim (right). (Supplied: Yuliia Kuzma)

Ms Kuzma adopted Maxim, her biological nephew, after migrating from Ukraine to Australia in 2015.

But, since the adoption was finalised in 2020, she has been unable to travel to bring him home due to border closures and then the outbreak of war.

Ms Kuzma's close friend has been his guardian in Ukraine, but didn't want to flee the country.

"[And] kids couldn't cross the borders without a parent or representative," Ms Kuzma said.

Starting the journey

Ms Kuzma had been waiting for approvals to travel and had been planning with Maxim's legal guardian in Ukraine about the best time to come.

After a heartbreaking goodbye with her seven-year-old twins in Proserpine, the time came this week.

"I feel horrible, I just cried," she said.

Ms Kuzma flew out of the Whitsunday Coast Airport on Tuesday. (ABC Tropical North: Angel Parsons)

"Everyone gave me a big hug, my baby girl and my son just jumped on me with a big cuddle."

Annabelle and Alexander Kuzma miss their older brother, Maxim.  (ABC Tropical North: Angel Parsons)

The plan was to fly to Poland and then cross Ukraine's border, bound for the city of Kremenchuk.

"If everything goes to plan, and it's unpredictable, I'm expecting to be there by Friday morning," Ms Kuzma said.

Maxim's home was in Kharkiv, a city hammered by Russian forces and in parts, reduced to ruins.

They had fled the city for a safer region last month.

A world away in country Queensland, Ms Kuzma had been living in a nightmare, just wanting her family to be whole.

"[The twins] ask me every day, 'Mum, Mum … when will my big brother be here?'" Ms Kuzma said in the weeks leading up to her departure.

Maxim is close with his twin brother and sister, who live in Australia.  (Supplied: Yuliia Kuzma)

Ms Kuzma said while Maxim's visa and passport were organised, they needed to obtain a new vaccine certificate.

"He has been vaccinated, but doesn't have a vaccination certificate," she said.

"In Ukraine it's a different medical system, you need to get it through your family GP. Our family GP is back in Kharkiv."

She was hoping to sort the documents out and escort him across the border, and fly back to Australia next week.

Ms Kuzma said the Proserpine community had their fingers crossed, with everybody wanting to see Maxim home safe.