August 22nd, 2024
64,046 people evacuated from danger to date
180 people evacuated from danger this week
45 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
Many of our teams’ efforts continue to focus on two main directions in the Donbas. In the north Russians are advancing toward Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kostyantynivka, but due to the heroic fighting of the Ukrainian armed forces and extremely difficult terrain, the frontline is moving slowly. Further to the south, the Russian army is approaching Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, where Ukraine is having a much harder time holding the enemy back. Below we give a snapshot of the activities of some of our teams in this area, but many volunteers not mentioned here are also involved in providing aid in this region, as well as well as in receiving the stream of new refugees, fleeing from the hellish conditions of frontline settlements.
Stories
Northern Donbas (Kostyantynivka)
Inna’s team made a scheduled delivery to Kostyantynivka from Dnipro. Unfortunately the road they had to take had grown even more unsafe than it had been on previous trips. For about five nerve-wrecking minutes a drone followed the team’s vehicle, perhaps evaluating whether a minivan bringing bread to the elderly in Kostyantynivka was a worthy target for the 10 lb. explosive the drone was carrying.
Kostyantynivka shellings have become chaotic, probably signaling that Russia has decided to raze this city to the ground. On the day of this aid distribution shells landed in the city center, as well as a few blocks away from a distribution site. Fortunately no one was harmed.
Central Donbas (Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad)
Not a day passes without Russia capturing some land in this direction. With only 110 miles separating these cities from Dnipro, our Dnipro teams are focusing their efforts here. Kyrylo and his team from Pomahaem Foundation have tried to meet with local government representatives, but have quickly understood that in the current situation, humanitarian efforts are not being centrally coordinated, and that local volunteers provide better intel on the situation on the ground. Pomahaem has been helping evacuate not only people, but their possession as well, transporting four 20-ton trucks of belongings from Myrnohrad to Dnipro — a major logistics feat. Dobra sprava has also continued their relentless evacuation efforts, making 19 trips into the region.
Anastasia made a major delivery to Shevchenko near Pokrovsk, providing aid to 900 families there! Anastasia reported seeing trucks and passenger vehicles loaded with whatever possessions people could gather, heading West, reminding her of the first weeks of the war.
5K Run for Ukraine in Scranton, Benefiting Ukraine TrustChain
We are excited to share that our friends in Scranton, Pennsylvania are holding their third annual fundraiser for Ukraine this Saturday. This year they selected Ukraine TrustChain as their beneficiary!
Scranton 4 Ukraine is a Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sprang up in March 2022, dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Ukrainian refugees by bringing the community together through events, such as this run. See more information at the link. Thank you to the organizers and donors, and good luck to all the Scranton runners and walkers supporting Ukraine this Saturday!
Continued Rebuilding Support
Recently we identified four rebuilt houses in the Kharkiv Region that we failed to report on in previous newsletters. Altogether, so far this year we’ve helped rebuild 174 homes. 689 homes have been restored if you count the ones where our teams performed disinfections, mold removal and extermination services.
Although we’ve had to pause rebuilding in the villages North of Kharkiv due to the high risk of repeat destruction, our teams are now prospecting other more suitable locations in the south of the country. We hope to provide more details on their efforts soon.
Help in Occupied Territories
Three people were evacuated from the Russian-occupied left bank and 70 packages were distributed in Russian-occupied zones.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
19 trips, evacuating 171 people from Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Selydove areas.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
20.1 tons of aid brought to 8100 people.
9,500 people received bread.
Kherson Operations:
Disinfected 7 buildings.
Exterminations in 3 buildings.
24 equipment maintenance tasks.
Evacuated 6 people from Pokrovsk.
Supporting 60 refugees who just fled from the Donbas to Novomoskovsk.
Trips to Petropillia, Shevchenkove, and Tokovske near Nikopol — high risk areas in different parts of Ukraine.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): Oleksandr’s volunteers Andriy V, Max M and Artem K delivered 2,500 kg of food, clothing, medicine, and bedding to 400 families in some of the hot spots of the Sumy Region, where residents find themselves under constant risk of tank, missile and drone attack. These included Slavhorod, Pozhnya, Verkhnya Pozhnya, and Porozok.
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 14 tons of water to Kherson.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 1,200 people.
Artem S (Hostomel): Artem’s charity My vdoma (We Are at Home), with the support of the Ukrainian Humanitarian Institute, held a children's camp in Bucha for children of military personnel, and children of dead and missing soldiers. 42 children aged 10-15 attended. The children participated in games and entertainment, met with psychologists who helped them overcome trauma, and attended master classes to learn about cooking, health and self care, personal boundaries and first aid.
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): Brought 2.5 tons of humanitarian kits, clothes, medicines and animal feed to Verkhnii Saltiv (Kharkiv Region) which can only be reached by detours and has no electricity, grocery stores or pharmacies. Brought 2 tons of aid to the unoccupied village of Rubizhne (also Kharkiv Region) which also has no direct transport connections and receives very little food or medicine aid. Delivered 2 tons of aid near Toretsk (Donetsk Region). Brought 20 armchairs and chairs, medicines and other supplies to a Kharkiv military hospital.
Oksana K (Lutsk): delivered 300-400 kg of food aid to 40 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Khrinnyky (Rivne Region). Sent 1,000 kg of food and hygiene items East, to the area around Kramatorsk. Helped a family with a seriously ill mother with hygiene products. Sent a 20 kg package to the Donetsk Region. Delivered 500-600 kg of food aid to a camp for war orphans.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions for IDP children and adults, children with disabilities, children from large families and from military families.
Offered art therapy to 114 children (total of 3 art therapy sessions held).
Held recreation camps for 40 children.
Took 70 children to a museum.
Helped 220 IDP children with bread and other food and 56 IDPs with clothes and shoes.
Provided 70 physical therapy and wellness sessions for IDPs from Pokrovsk and Toretsk in the new mobile trailer outfitted for this purpose.
Kseniia’s Team — Livyj bereh (Left Bank)
Helped 5 wounded in Odesa.
Svitlana, based in Kherson, delivered 140 packages to Kherson and Ulyanivka.
Darya, based in Kharkiv, delivered aid to 84 families in five frontline villages near Kupiansk.
Karina’s Team — My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
136 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team — Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Distributed 220 aid packages to internally displaced refugees and locals who were affected by past rocket strikes on Smila.
Timur’s Team — Komanda Teymura Alyeva (Timur Alyev’s Team)
Distributed aid packages to 476 families in Saltivka, Kharkiv.
Special home deliveries to 20 disabled elderly and 20 families with infants.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams — Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
1,479 people received aid at the Mykolaiv office.
3 tons of water delivered to Novohryhorivka.
175 families received aid in Kyselivka.
Provided targeted aid to 48 low-income families.
Organized a holiday for kids in Kobzartsi.
Pomahaem Foundation (We Help Foundation)
Took 3 trips to Pokrovsk, delivering 150 packages of targeted aid for people staying there.
Conducted survey for cash-aid recipients in Pokrovsk.
21 tons of water delivered to Nikopol.
2 trips to Myrnohrad. The team has moved 4 20 ton trucks with possessions from Myrnohrad to Dnipro to make it easier for people to evacuate before the city becomes too dangerous.
Marina’s Team — Daruy dobro Ukrayina (Give Good Ukraine)
150 packages with food and hygiene were distributed in Piatyhatky among internally displaced families and single elderly people.
Dina’s Team — Vilʹni lyudy, vilʹna krayina (Free People, Free Country)
Distributed 360 packages of food and hygiene in Kremenchuk, Krasnokutsk, Poltava, and Kanev.
Yulia P traveled from Kremenchuk to Maksymivka, a nearby town, distributing 64 packages and passing along donated clothes and other household items to displaced families, families with many children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Mailed 100 packages of aid.
Bohdan’s Team — Vse robymo sami (We Do Everything Ourselves)
42 families received food and hygiene kits in Zhytomyr.
At club for children with disabilities kids had a picnic and made a barbeque.
Alena’s Team — Diva (Virgo)
Delivered 500 food and hygiene packages to Shyroka Balka.
Anastasia’s Team - LoveUA
Delivered 900 packages (food and hygiene) to Shevchenko.
How to Help
Donate — The money goes directly to teams providing aid on the ground, who respond dynamically to the most urgent needs.
Fundraise — Organize fundraisers at your school, work, place of worship, with friends and family, etc.
Spread the word — Share our website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Fill out this form if you’re interested in volunteering with us, and we’ll let you know when opportunities come up.
Download and print our flyer. Ask your local coffee shop if you can add it to the bulletin, or use it as part of your fundraiser.