July 4th, 2024
62,653 people evacuated from danger to date
221 people evacuated from danger this week
41 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories this week
Last week, one of our founders, Daniil visited key sites where UTC volunteers work. The itinerary included Odesa, Kherson, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv and villages around these cities. He writes:
“Тhere is a stark difference between the weekly reports containing dry numbers and familiar pictures of people holding plastic bags, and the raw reality you feel in Ukraine. Here, ordinary people, like our Ukrainian volunteers, have put their lives on hold for more than two years to go to deadly, dangerous places every week. They do this despite blackouts, rocket attacks, draft police checkpoints and a multitude of other obstacles. But they always get through, making sure that donations to UTC address the most urgent needs. If you still have friends who might be willing to help keep this effort going, please tell them about this incredible work. Every dollar helps.”
Daniil (front row, center) in Ukraine with local volunteers
Stories
UTC Volunteer Meetings
While Daniil has been in Ukraine, we’ve organized volunteer meetings in Odesa, Kherson, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. At each of these meetings, volunteers have shared both lighthearted and horrifying stories, as well as discussed their next steps. Again in Daniil’s words:
“Our frequent and sincere communication with our teams gives us an adequate picture of the real needs on the ground, and good understanding of our teams’ processes, but it’s been important to connect on an emotional level – to feel that we are all part of one large team. At all of our meetings we’ve sung Ukrainian songs together. It’s been a powerful experience for all of us, looking at each other and realizing how many thousands of people have been helped by the volunteers present in the room.”
Drilling Artesian Wells in Gray Zones
As the Russian offensive in the east moves forward toward Kostyantynivka, two of our teams have partnered together to drill wells in the villages that are at risk of becoming the next frontline zones in the war, and that do not currently have access to clean water. Last week another well was completed. The initial probe, which went to the depth of 280 ft was not successful, but acting on a hunch from local residents, the volunteers tried again. On the second attempt they found water at 250 ft. No matter what happens next, people remaining in this village will be able to get clean water and increase their chances of survival in 100 F heat.
Helping People from Destroyed High Rises in Dnipro
As the UTC group left Dnipro heading towards Kharkiv, a rocket hit a residential highrise two blocks away from the hotel where the team was staying. A few hours later a dormitory in another part of town was destroyed as well. Inna’s team immediately set up tents to provide food and shelter for those who no longer had access to their homes. The tents continued to operate for five days around the clock, helping 650 people daily.
Rebuilding Roofs between Mykolaiv and Kherson
This week Daniil traveled with Pavlo Shulha to Novohryhorivka and Partyzanske, two of about 20 villages that Pavlo’s team has supported since the liberation of the Kherson Region. The villages were lined along the frontline and to this day, most of the buildings are completely shattered. However, despite the destruction, Kherson villages give an unexpected glimpse of hope.
The mere absence of shelling is enough to revive life in these places. Over the last year, nearby fields have been de-mined, giving Ukrainians the long-awaited chance to work their land. More than half of pre-war residents have returned home, and the community has worked together to restore their houses.
Through Pavel, UTC has sponsored the repairs of 20 roofs in the village of Novohryhorivka. The village Daniil and Pavlo visited is also getting support from American Menonite volunteers, who have come there to help with manual labor. The villagers have enough food now, but their needs are getting more complex, as people look for lumber and firewood.
Vitaliy’s Team Targeted by Mortars in Zalizne
Last week, Vitaliy and his team (which is part of Oleksandr D's network) went to Zalizne near Toretsk. After visiting the site of the destroyed invincibility point, which had included a much-needed well that the team had drilled, the volunteers attempted to deliver aid to the remaining residents of this very dangerous area. An enemy drone spotted them. The volunteers were able to shoot it down with their new anti-drone equipment, but that was not the end of the trouble.
The enemy, whose positions are located a mere 1.5 km from the town, began shelling the location where the drone had been grounded. The shelling with 120 mm mortar was so intense that the locals couldn't leave their basements and the team was forced to flee. Fortunately, the anti-drone system on their vehicle prevented pursuit by enemy drones, and the volunteers managed to escape to a neighboring village. Here, the remaining aid was loaded into the small cars of local residents who then returned to Zalizne to distribute it.
Luckily, none of the volunteers were hurt, but their minibus was damaged during the escape and had to be urgently repaired. The evacuation of three families was also disrupted. These people will have to wait until the next time Vitaliy's volunteers visit the area.
Vitaliy, in front of destroyed invincibility point in Zalizne.
Aid in Occupied Territories
2 people were evacuated from the Russian-occupied left bank. 200 aid packages were also distributed in 3 occupied cities.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra Sprava
221 people were evacuated in the course of 20 trips to the Toretsk area.
Inna’s Team – Krok z Nadiyeyu
8,250 people helped deliver 20.75 tons of aid.
9,500 people received bread.
Kherson aid:
Disinfected 6 spaces, including basements in 4 high rises.
Exterminated rodents in 6 buildings, including in 1 large basement.
Performed 14 equipment management tasks.
Delivered bread and diapers to Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka.
Delivered bread to extremely high-risk Kup'yans'k.
Set up stations at 2 bombed sites in Dnipro, helping 1,000+ people (1 location did not provide exact numbers).
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): over the past two weeks the team delivered 4,500 kg of food, clothing, and medicine to Kherson and 2,2500 kg of food kits, hygiene items and clothing to Chervona Dolyna (Mykolaiv Region).
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 14 tons of water to Kherson.
Andriy P (Mykolaiv): delivered 2 mini buses, as well as 1 ton of humanitarian aid, from Germany to Mykolaiv.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 600 people.
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): delivered 3 tons of clothes, aid packages and animal feed to Zalizne (Donetsk Region). Delivery was interrupted by enemy fire and had to be completed later in small cars to avoid Russian drones (see story). Delivered vehicles for special missions to Bohodukhiv (Kharkiv Region). Brought 2 tons of aid to Horlivka (Donetsk Region). Evacuated 5 people with their luggage and animals from Toretsk (Donetsk Region) to Kharkiv.
Natalia B (Kherson): distributed dairy products to 9 families with children, children with disabilities and elderly people with disabilities. This delivery happens 4 times a month.
Oksana K (Lutsk): brought 468 kg of aid from Poland to Lutsk – 302 kg diapers, 103 kg medical supplies, 43 kg used clothes, and 20 kg children's toys.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions for children and families:
Offering art therapy to 79 children, including internally displaced (IDP) children, children from military families and from large families (total of 3 art therapy sessions held).
Held a recreational camp with fishing, rafting on inflatable boats and assistance with bread and other groceries for 36 IDP children.
Took 64 children with disabilities and orphans to the theater. Children also received toys from the Tigres toy company.
Helped 230 children at IDP assistance centers with bread and groceries and 46 children with clothes and shoes.
Kseniia’s Team — NGO Livyj Bereh
Darya, based in Kharkiv, delivered 140 aid packages to 6 hard-hit frontline villages.
23 aid packages delivered to IDPs from recently occupied villages.
187 packages were delivered to Vysuntsi and Fedorivka near Kherson.
Karina’s Team — We Save Dnipro
115 people in the shelter, with new arrivals coming in from the Toretsk area.
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch
Distributed 330 aid packages in the village of Sadove, Kherson Region.
Distributed 70 aid packages to recently displaced refugees in Smila.
Distributed 50 aid packages to the elderly and people with disabilities in Smila via the department of social services.
Timur’s Team — Timur and Team
The team distributed aid to 352 refugees sheltering in Kharkiv who recently evacuated from Kup'yans'k, Volchansk and other nearby areas and have no place to go.
The volunteers also brought aid to 321 people in Saltivka, Kharkiv, focusing on elderly, residents with disabilities, and those living on their own with few resources.
Pavel and Olena’s Team — Touch of Heart and Dawn of Hope
1,570 people received aid in the Mykolaiv office.
242 packages delivered to Opanasivka and Novohryhorivka.
1.5 tons of water delivered to Novopavlivske.
Pomahaem Foundation
5 trips to Nikopol and Kup'yans'k area, delivering targeted aid to 111 people.
10.5 tons of water delivered.
Marina’s Team – Give Good Ukraine
150 families received aid in Piatyhatky.
Medicine and medical products were transferred to the Piatyhatky hospital.
Adult diapers were given to the center for the provision of social services.
Sanitary kits were handed over to 37 families who have suffered as a result of the war.
Dina’s Team — Vilni Liudy — Vilna Krayina
Distributed 405 packages in Kanev, Poltava, Krasnokutsk, and Dnipro.
Mailed 100 packages of aid.
Serhiy T traveled to Donets’ke, delivering food and other aid to 80 families remaining there.
Bogdan’s Team — Vse robymo sami
44 food and hygiene packages were distributed in Zhytomyr.
Special needs children served by “Vse robymo sami” went fishing with the volunteers, caught fish, and cleaned and fried it themselves.
Anna - Independent Nation
348 tons of water delivered to farms in Kherson in the villages of Tavriyske and Nova Zorya.
Alena’s Team - Virgo
Delivered 100 packages of food and hygienic aid, 100 light bulbs, 2 large solar-powered lamps, 22 power banks, and 150 packages of batteries to Kherson and 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.