February 15, 2024
59,358 people evacuated from danger to date
164 people evacuated from danger this week
47 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories
In Memory of Serhiy Hnivko
We express our deepest condolences to the family of Serhiy Hnevko, Dnipro-based volunteer who passed away in his sleep last week. Serhiy came from the town of Svatove, occupied by Russia since 2022. Immediately upon arriving at the shelter we support in Dnipro, Serhiy threw himself into volunteer work, joining Dina’s team and helping Karina’s. A man of herculean, almost intimidating force and stature, he had unending compassion and deep understanding of the problems faced by refugees fleeing from the war. He helped them without ego or condescension, with a sense of humor and effortless patience. Then on February 9th he simply did not wake up in the morning, dying from a heart attack in his sleep. He was 39 years old. He is survived by his wife and 2 children.
Stories
Firewood Deliveries to Beryslav Continue
Last week enemy fire prevented Inna’s team from delivering firewood to Beryslav, but this week they succeeded though the trip was extremely difficult. Here are translated excerpts from their report:
“The city is under constant drone strikes. When darkness falls the city is pitch black and only flashes of explosions light up the horror around you. On the opposite, occupied bank, you can see the lights: there's no need for the occupants to turn them out because the Ukrainian army doesn't shell civilians.
There is no water in the city. Some try to drill wells, but the enemy closely monitors this and if they see a well they start shooting at it, so people survive mainly on brought-in water…
“Firewood trucks were delayed because one of the trucks broke down. As a result our volunteers reached Beryslav only in the evening. Locals met us and started unloading the firewood. This had to be done quickly, but one truck had to be unloaded manually. We then realized that it was better that we arrived in the evening. We couldn’t be seen in the dark. The firewood was unloaded, and local volunteers distributed it to the homes of people who were elderly or sick and couldn’t move the firewood themselves… In addition to firewood, we brought gas stoves, medicine, candles and matches. All of it was vital, and people were happy to receive aid.”
Help in the Occupied Territories
320 packages were distributed in 4 towns occupied by the enemy.
7 people were evacuated from the occupied territories. We receive short descriptions about each evacuee. Volunteer messages paint the realities of Russian occupation in terse, emotionless language. Here is a direct translation of one excerpt:
“A. - we evacuated his mother and son a few months ago, but he stayed back. He is remarried and has three children. He wanted to evacuate together with his family. But his wife didn't go and instead this happened. The military people came over. They beat him very badly. He received a concussion and lost most of his hearing. He understood that he doesn't have many options left other than evacuating. Fortunately he is safe now.”
Anastasia’s Trip
Anastasia had a bad feeling when the team set off to deliver 253 packages of food, along with hygiene products, pet food, adult and child diapers, and baby food to a small town near the frontline in the area near the city of Lyman. The town does not have running water, so Anastasia arranged for a donation from a bottled water producer as well. The load was divided into two trucks and a van, caravaning together through hazardous weather – the roads covered with black ice, and rain that froze immediately upon hitting the ground. Driving was treacherous and slow. On the way back, near Kramatorsk, one of the trucks swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle and went off the road, flipping over. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Military vehicles that drove by stopped to see if the team needed help. Eventually one of these vehicles was able to pull the truck upright and bring it out of the ditch. The team could not start the flipped truck for safety reasons, so they attached it to their other truck with a tow line and set off back for Dnipro. The operational truck ran low on fuel, but gas stations were closed now after curfew. When the team finally found an open gas station and made it back to Dnipro, it was completely dark.
Everyone was soaked through with the freezing rain. Anastasia says that the skin on her hands is still peeling from the cold. Her neck spasmed after the trip and she was in pain for days. Yet even after that grueling experience, the team is preparing to go again.
Alena’s trip
Antonivka is right on the front line. Yet people (mostly elderly) continue to live in their houses, even when the river that separates the Russian and Ukrainian troops runs literally through their backyards. As a result, they live in the basements, rarely leaving to go outside.
Alena’s team brought generators, LED flashlights that can be charged through USB cables, and some basic household items that the townspeople requested. Because people were afraid to leave their basements, the volunteers drove down the street honking their horn to let them know there’s aid available, but only about half of the 200 households ventured outside. She says that during the distribution, the volunteers dropped a piece of paper on the ground by accident. As they were leaving, a frantic woman ran out of her house screaming about this piece of paper. Alena was taken aback and said that the paper wasn’t important. But that was not the woman’s concern. The woman explained that before the team arrived, drones had scouted the area. If the drones find any change in the area when they return – even as small as a piece of paper – they will drop bombs.
A Canadian volunteer named Steve joined Alena’s team for this trip. Steve lives nearby and will help distribute the remaining packages over the course of the next few days.
Alena apologized for not texting us right away when they returned to Odesa. She said they had to wake up at 3:00 am to get on the road. She said, “We just lay down for a minute, and suddenly, we’re waking up from the sounds of drones outside, and it’s midnight. We spent the rest of the night in the hallway.”
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra Sprava (“Good Cause”)
148 people evacuated from high-risk areas.
The team made 15 trips to Lyman, Mykolaivka, Slovyansk, Druzhkivka, Kostyantynivka, Toretsk, Pokrovsk,Myrnohrad, Kurahove and Kherson.
Inna’s Team – Krok z Nadiyeyu (“Step with Hope”)
7920 people received 21 tons of aid.
Bread distributed to 9500 people.
50 tons of firewood delivered to Beryslav after delay last week.
Kherson operation:
Performed exterminations in 12 buildings.
Helped fix up 3 buildings after city center shelling last week.
Disinfected 1 building.
Performed 22 generator maintenance tasks.
Brought aid to Perebudova, Druzhkivka, Kostyantynivka, Kramatorsk, Slovyansk in Donbas region.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Vladyslav K delivered 35 tons of water to Mykolaiv and 7 to Kherson.
Sandra S fed 2300 people in Odesa.
Andriy P completed distribution of orthopedic beds, delivering the last 15 to Zaporizhzhia.
6 trucks delivered 135 tons of fuel briquettes to Toretsk, helping 450 families.
2 trucks have been going to the east 3 times a week.
5 trucks delivered 111 trucks of fuel briquettes to Antonivka, near Kherson.
Oksana K delivered 700kg of aid to a Psycho-Neurological clinic in Pochaiv.
Oleksandr Z provided aid to 229 children.
NGO Angelia
1.5 tons of antiseptics, clothing and milk, generators delivered to Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk in Donbas
Kseniia’s Team - NGO Livyj Bereh (“Left Bank”)
Finished replacing 3 roofs in Slatyne near Kharkiv.
Darya focused on targeted evacuations last week saving 9 people from Kupyansk direction.
Karina’s Team - My ryatuyemo Ukrainu Dnipro (“We Save Ukraine Dnipro”)
Mailed chemical warmers to 50 families in Nikopol.
Mailed portable gas stoves and gas canisters, matches and candles to 40 families in Nikopol and 10 families in Kurakhovo.
Distributed 30 packages of food in Dnipro.
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch (“Help is Near”)
Distributed 250 aid packages in Zaporizhzhya to older residents there.
Timur’s Team – Timur i ego komanda (“Timur and Team”)
Distributed aid packages to 250 people in Saltivka.
Delivered 300 packages to Kupiansk.
Deliveries for 79 people to the small village of Kurilovka near the front.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams - (“Touch of Heart” and “Dawn of Hope”)
Provided help to 1895 people from Mykolaiv office.
Delivered 1.5 tons of water to Luch.
Moved 7.5 tons of aid to Mykolaiv.
Pavlo spent a week traveling through Kherson/Mykolaiv villages assessing needs for the upcoming season.
Kirill, Marina, Andriy - BF Pomahaem (“We Help”)
120 packages delivered to Kostyantynivka
164 packages delivered to Komar
4 trips to the Zaporizhzhya region to collect surveys for the project sponsored by the German government.
Natalia - Vyshnia (“Cherry”) Volunteer Center
Tetiana from Kryvyi Rih delivered 205 packages to families and additional 55 packages for children to Osokorivka.
Marina’s Team – Good Give Ukraine
150 food and aid packages provided to people who suffered from war in Zhovti Vody.
More than 8000 pounds of food, along with 4 pallets of household items and medical supplies, were received for dispersal among internally displaced persons across 5 centers.
Dina’s Team -- Vilni Liudy – Vilna Krayina (“Free People - Free Country”)
Distributed 230 packages of food, and 250 packages of hygiene products.
Mailed 100 packages.
Bogdan’s Team - Vse robymo sami (“Doing everything ourselves”)
Aid provided to 42 families in Zhitomyr.
Regular Friday club for children with disabilities held, featuring a master class on making shawarma. Children made it diligently to treat their parents at home.
Water supply established for the "House of Joy" children's center under construction.
Anna - Nezalezhna Naciya (“Independent Nation”)
Set up water delivery service in Pravdyne village, near Mykolaiv.
Provided chainsaws to Bilozerska district that municipality will use to provide firewood to local residents.
Anastasia’s Team - LoveUA
Delivered 253 packages of food, along with hygiene products, bottled water, pet food, adult and child diapers, and baby food to a small town right on the frontline in the Lyman region.
Alena’s Team - Diva (“Virgo”)
10 generators, 200 rechargeable LED lights, 100 package of household and hygiene products delivered to Antonivka.
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.
