February 22, 2024
59,541 people evacuated from danger to date
183 people evacuated from danger this week
42 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories
This week marks a tragic milestone: two years since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For two years, Ukraine has fought for freedom and peace. Many Ukrainians, civilians and soldiers, have been killed; many peaceful towns have been reduced to rubble. Last week, we mourned the loss of Avdiivka, or rather the field covered with toxic rubble where the town of Avdiivka used to stand.
In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to support and show solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine. Ukrainian organizations across the country will be organizing rallies in many cities in the US and Europe on February 24th. We hope you’ll join us at one of these rallies. Many of the verified rallies are listed here: https://ucca.org/swu2024/
Stories
Vincentown Fundraiser for Ukraine TrustChain
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to the United Methodist Church in Vincentown, NJ, for holding a fundraiser for UTC this past weekend. The church members shared that every week they pray for the safety and success of all of our volunteers. The beautiful music and prayers were powerful, and the funds raised will help many Ukrainians. It means so much that Americans continue to care about and support Ukraine two years into this invasion.
We hope this will inspire others to host their own fundraiser.
Notes from Our Supporters
We love getting notes from our supporters and sharing them with the volunteers in Ukraine. Our latest note arrived from our long time supporter Diana: “5-year-old Will saved his allowance money to make this donation and help Ukraine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He also added the exclamation marks.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”.
Dear Will, if you are still reading this, Shiro diakuyemo! (which means “Thank you very much!” in Ukrainian).
Below are more recent donor comments that warmed our hearts and brought encouragement to the teams in Ukraine.
Natasha L “Thank you for your service. We appreciate your dedication and helping Ukrainian democracy survive. 🇺🇦💕💪”
Nicolett D “Slava Ukraini! There are plenty of us who care about you and admire your bravery.”
Johannah F “With love and a promise to remember your work and workers every day.”
Michael C “We support your struggle for freedom and by our small gift hope to ease your suffering. Mike & Cyndy, Nurses and fortunate Americans.”
Laura G “So sorry for you all. Please know our thoughts are always with you!”
Virginia S “Thank you for your hard work. We in the US admire you and support you.”
Aid and Evacuations from Occupied Territories
16 people were evacuated this week from the Russian-occupied left bank. One of the evacuation sites was previously inaccessible to volunteers because the driver assigned to that route was attacked by a Russian drone. His car was destroyed and he himself was wounded. Astonishingly, another driver has now been found to travel the same road.
This week also features some heartwarming stories: a 70+-year-old woman refused to leave without her best friend. The two women finally left together after much persuasion from one of their grandsons. Another group of old women who had trouble walking and were very hesitant to take the trip finally relaxed midway on the road and had a little party. Another woman, who uses a wheelchair, was evacuated last summer. The volunteers describe her as being full of positive energy, lifting the spirits of the volunteers themselves. Now living in unoccupied Ukraine she has been reaching out to her former neighbors, reassuring them, sharing her experiences and encouraging them to trust the volunteers to take the journey to safety.
290 people received aid packages in 4 occupied towns.
Amicus Getting Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine despite Blockades
We would like to update you on the current unfortunate situation at the Polish border checkpoints.
As you may already know Polish farmers have been protesting for months against the influx of Ukrainian products, which they believe are crowding the Polish market and undercutting their livelihood. Daily, they obstruct checkpoints for commercial transportation, and are halting the passage of over 3,000 Ukrainian trucks.
One of the Amicus trucks has been waiting at the border in standby mode for over 9 hours, while other team members are still waiting at another checkpoint, also in standby mode without any ETA.
At the 9th hour the team was able to get help from sympathetic Polish police officers to escort the truck under convoy to the border past protesting farmers. They could only get the truck as close as 4.5 km from the border. The estimate to enter the checkpoint from there is about three to four hours.
The other trucks at the other checkpoint have already broken through the protesting farmers and approached the barrier. We estimate that they will pass through in about seven hours. Vitaliy still has enough humor left to comment: “In short, everything is as usual!”
Stay tuned for further updates.
Windows in Kharkiv
Dina’s team NGO Free People-Free Country has completed the installation of 12 new windows for 4 families in Kharkiv. The families were personally vetted by Serhiy Tiora and chosen based on need.
Congratulations!
We extend our congratulations to Karina, the co-founder of NGO We Save Ukraine Dnipro, and her husband, on the birth of their son, Andriy. Andriy was born on Valentine’s Day and Karina says he’s already a true Ukrainian. Although he spent his first morning in the bomb shelter, he seemed unafraid of the sounds of nearby drones and explosions, and continued to nurse. We wish for baby Andriy to grow up in a free and peaceful Ukraine!
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra Sprava (“Good Cause”)
159 people evacuated in 16 trips.
Inna’s Team – Krok z Nadiyeyu (“Step with Hope”)
7860 people received 21 tons of aid.
Bread distributed to 9500 people.
136 tons of firewood delivered to Barvenkovo.
Preparing deliveries to Berislav - although transportation providers so far are refusing to risk their vehicles.
Kherson operation:
Performed exterminations in 8 buildings and provided chemicals for 3 more households.
Evacuated 1 person to Chernomorsk.
Performed 25 generator maintenance tasks.
Traveled to Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, Mykolaivka, Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, NIkopol - all high risk areas suffering from daily enemy bombardment.
Distributed glasses to 70 people in Okhotnichye, Mendeleevka near Nikopol.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): delivered 1,200 kg humanitarian aid (food, hygiene, household chemicals) to restricted areas in the Sumy Region and 1,300 kg to Mykolaiv Region locations of Ternovi Pody, Snihurivka, Ochakiv and Novomykolaivka, as well as to Fontanka (Odesa Region).
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 7 tons of water to Kherson.
Andriy P (Mykolaiv): is bringing a refrigerator van from abroad loaded with humanitarian aid, including a refrigerator van, an engine for a medical vehicle, 2 armored windshields, 2 car ramps, 8 tires and strong painkillers.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 2,500 people.
Yuri S (Vinnytsia): delivered 300 kg of food and 400 kg of clothes to a boarding house in Plyskiv (Vinnytsia Region).
Oleksandr D (Lutsk): delivered 224.5 tons of briquettes to 689 households in Antonivka (Kherson Region), Toretsk and Shcherbynivka (both in Donetsk Region). Brought 900 kg of energy bars and muesli from Germany. 500 kg of this was sent to Inna’s team in Dnipro and NGO “Rokada Volyn '' in Lutsk.
Oksana K (Lutsk): sent 30 kg of medicine to a mobile hospital near Kupiansk (Kharkiv Region). Picked 500 energy bars made by women from the "Kovcheg'' aid center for further distribution.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): Held 4 art therapy sessions for 64 children with disabilities, internally displaced children (IDPs), children from large families and from military families. An additional 147 children attended museums, concerts and other cultural events.
Kseniia’s Team - NGO Livyj Bereh (“Left Bank”)
2 new roofs completed in Slatyne near Kharkiv.
Darya managed to get 6 people out of frontline villages near Kupyansk (Kutkivka, Fygolivka.
Delivered 75 packages to the villages trapped in the battle zone (Podoly, Petropavlivka, Kindrashivka, Zapadne, Kurylivka, Dvorichna, Pishane).
Svitlana provided help to 75 families in Vysuntsi near Kherson.
Karina’s Team - My ryatuyemo Ukrainu Dnipro (“We Save Ukraine Dnipro”)
Sent hygiene products for 100 families to Alena’s team to deliver to villages near Kherson.
Distributed humanitarian aid to 25 new shelter residents who evacuated due to the advancement of Russian troops.
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch (“Help is Near”)
Distributed 250 aid packages in a frontline village of Sadove, Kherson region.
Timur’s Team – Timur i ego komanda (“Timur and Team”)
Distributed aid packages to 350 people in Saltivka.
Special deliveries to 20 children and 10 disabled elderly.
Continuing to look for a vehicle for their needs.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams - (“Touch of Heart” and “Dawn of Hope”)
1758 people received help in Mykolaiv office.
1.5 tons of water delivered to Novopavlivka.
2 cars (.5 ton) of clothing and toys delivered to Kobzartsi and Novopavlivske.
Kirill, Marina, Andriy - BF Pomahaem (“We Help”)
110 packages delivered to Kostyantynivka in Donbas.
120 to Shevchenkove near Kupyansk.
151 delivered to Dolynky.
5 trips to Zaporizhzhya region to vet people for cash aid from the German government.
Marina’s Team – Good Give Ukraine
150 families got food packages in Piatykhatky.
This is what Marina wrote about this aid: "Infinite gratitude for your unparalleled support in providing food for those affected by the effects of war. Your continued help not only furnishes families with necessary resources but also instills a sense of warmth and hope during this challenging period.
For every individual who has survived the consequences of war, your aid is of immeasurable importance. It not only affords the opportunity to have food but also fosters conditions to recover strength and psychological well-being. In the light of your kindness, people feel they are not alone in their struggles, which is paramount.
Life is particularly arduous for displaced persons who have lost their homes and futures due to the war.
They face poverty, the loss of normalcy and the constant stress of waiting to return to their hometown, their home. Although most families have already had their homes destroyed, they continue to hold on to the dream of coming back homeward. Your help becomes a beacon of hope and support for them in difficult moments."
Dina’s Team -- Vilni Liudy – Vilna Krayina (“Free People - Free Country”)
Installed 12 windows for 4 families in Kharkiv.
Distributed 730 packages of humanitarian aid.
Bogdan’s Team - Vse robymo sami (“Doing everything ourselves”)
Progress continues at the Inclusive Children's Center "House of Joy" as walls in the dining room, office, and second floor were painted by dedicated volunteers. Notably, all volunteers are parents of children with disabilities who are supported by Bogdan's organization, showcasing their commitment to enhancing the center's environment.
Children had a busy week. Poet and writer Maria Rudak visited the center, presenting her latest book titled "Cossack Dog," a captivating tale about a dog with a Cossack spirit from Zhytomyr. Kids also visited the theater to watch "Alice in Wonderland" and had their cooking classes.
42 families were supported with food and hygiene aid.
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.
