May 16, 2024
61,484 people evacuated from danger to date
171 people evacuated from danger this week
29 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories this week
Last week Ukraine was rattled by the news of the new invasion near the town of Vovchans’k. In just a few days several villages that had been liberated in the fall of 2022 were razed to the ground and once again occupied by Putin’s horde.
The attack did not come as a surprise. Ukraine’s intelligence agency correctly predicted the offensive timing and direction a few weeks earlier. As a result, many of the willing civilians have been evacuated in an orderly manner. However, some stragglers and overly optimistic residents stayed behind and are now being evacuated by volunteers, mostly based in Kharkiv. Timur evacuated many people from that direction last week.
These missions are extremely dangerous. One of our Kharkiv teams lent their vehicle for an evacuation by another group (not supported by UTC). As the vehicle approached Vovchans’k it was attacked by a Russian assault reconnaissance unit, which destroyed the vehicle and killed one of the volunteers. Another volunteer is still missing, either killed or captured. The evacuations of 2022, when a carton of cigarettes could sometimes buy passage through a Russian checkpoint, seem now to be an artifact of a noble and idealistic past. Today an encounter with Russian soldiers is lethal for volunteers helping Ukrainians flee.
Stories
Kharkiv Bombings
The offensive in the north is accompanied by intensifying bombings of Kharkiv. We’ve been writing about the difficult situation in Kharkiv for quite some time, so it’s difficult to convey how much worse it’s gotten in the last two weeks. Since April 29th, powerful airstrikes and rocket attacks have occurred daily.
Though Congress has approved aid to Ukraine, this aid has not yet reached the Ukrainian military. The country remains largely defenseless against Russia’s guided aerial bombs, each carrying 500-1500 kg of explosives into Kharkiv’s residential areas. The volunteers we support continue to help address the consequences of these attacks – boarding up homes, resettling and supporting people – but only the military can eliminate the causes of this destruction - Russia’s military planes and artillery. Our hearts are with our Kharkiv friends, Darya, Serhiy, Timur, and Vitaliy, who continue to do their life-saving work in the city and surrounding areas.
Timur’s Team Rescues Fleeing Civilians
With the Russian army pushing into the Kharkiv Region Timur’s team rushed to evacuate people from Vovchans’k and nearby villages — determined to help despite the danger. On several of the trips they heard explosions nearby and some of the people they evacuated were in a state of shock. The volunteers knew the area well from past deliveries, but it’s always hard to prepare yourself for the impact of a safe area that once again turns into a warzone.
In one particularly emotional evacuation the volunteers encountered an elderly woman who was on her own, trying to walk away from danger. She almost collapsed when the team reached her. Fortunately, the volunteers were able to safety evacuate her and several others to Kharkiv.
Videos of the evacuations have already been seen by a million people on Timur's TikTok. If only a fraction of the people were to support the work financially, the team would be able to continue supporting residents of the Kharkiv Region as long as necessary.
Tetiana’s Trip to Kharkiv Region Villages
Tetiana recently tried to deliver aid tovillages around Odnorobivka, all of which are located in close proximity to the enemy border.
“I was very worried about increased danger and intensified shelling. I even thought about postponing the trip, but my volunteers confidently decided to go. Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, our car was not allowed into the villages and we had to transfer the help at the last checkpoint into a car from Odnorobivka that came to meet us. They were able to deliver and distribute aid to the people who needed it.”
Aid in Occupied Zones
110 packages were distributed in occupied towns. Distributions slowed down due to intensifying shelling and greater restrictions on movement.
Agricultural Project Update
Despite the bloody battles burning all across the Kharkiv Region, some of our volunteers remain laser focused on the success of the agricultural project. Their messages were cheerful this week, as they are quite proud of the proper timing of seedling distributions. 4,600 families received agrarian help in areas around Kharkiv. Additional deliveries were also made to Donbas and Novy Beryslav in the Kherson Region.
Spring came early this year, and many villagers planted their gardens early too. However, unexpected late frosts two weeks ago damaged some of the plants. Seedling distributions which occurred in the Kharkiv Region last week were a huge relief to the disheartened farmers. We received dozens of thank you messages through Inna’s team and are passing on the gratitude to all of you who made this much needed support possible.
Helping Ludmila Mykhailivna
Ludmila Mykhailivna lives on the main street of Kherson. She contacted us about a rodent infestation in her home, where she and five others remain. When the "Step with Hope" team arrived, they found many mice, particularly on the fourth floor. Many apartments had boarded-up windows and doors pierced by shrapnel, attesting to past violence.
After finishing the work the team spoke to Ludmila. She told them that only five people still live in the building: all elderly and struggling with the mouse infestation. The younger residents died from a shell that hit the courtyard, leaving the walls scarred with shrapnel.
Ludmila has survived occupation, intimidation by Russians, and attempts to forcibly remove her from the city. She wants to stay in her home, believing God has preserved her. She said that even if her time has come, she wanted to die in her hometown. She cried as she shared this.
The team assured her that she’s not alone and can always call “Step with Hope” for help. She hugged the volunteers, telling them how important their work is. Remarkably, Ludmila got the team’s number from someone in Dnipro, who assured her that they could help.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra Sprava (“Good Cause”)
137 people were evacuated in 14 trips from Selydove, Novohrodivka, Lyman, Mykolaiv, Kostyantynivka, Myrnohrad, and Pokrovsk.
Inna’s Team – Krok z Nadiyeyu (“Step with Hope”)
21.5 tons delivered to 9,100 people.
Bread distributed to 9,500 people.
Work in Kherson:
Exterminations in 20 buildings, including 11 large ones.
17 equipment maintenance tasks completed.
Delivered aid to Kostyantynivka. The town is preparing for the approaching Russian armies.
Delivered aid to Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Druzhkivka and Nikopol.
Distributed aid to 40 children with disabilities still surviving in Nikopol.
Seedlings delivered to 4,600 people in multiple villages and towns.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): brought 1.5 tons of diapers, tents, and hygiene items from NGO Apostle Luke in Mukachevo (Zakarpattia Region) to Chernihiv. Organized a restorative program held in the sanatorium in Dnipro for women who live in front-line territories.
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 14 tons to Kherson.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 1,500 people. Monday was a rest day for the team as most of the people who come to receive food went to cemeteries to mark the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism.
Yuri S (Vinnytsia): distributed food packages and restored 4 destroyed roofs in the Mykolaiv region villages of Partyzanske and Kotlyareve.
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): brought 4.5 tons of humanitarian kits, medicines, clothes, animal feed and other aid to Toretsk, Zalizne, and Nelipivka (all in Donetsk Region). Vitaliy’s team also participated in a ceremony to receive the Order of Combat Volunteer.
Oleksandr D (Lutsk): received 1 ton of aid from Germany: 7 orthopedic beds, 5 wheelchairs, 8 rollators, hygiene products and medical materials. These will be distributed mainly to medical institutions next week.
Oksana K (Lutsk): distributed about 170 kg of aid to various local individuals and organizations.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): held 3 art therapy sessions for 52 internally displaced (IDP) children, children with disabilities and children from large families and military families. An additional 154 children participated in trips to museums and other activities. Bread was also distributed to 150 IDPs in Lutsk and in the village of Kniahynynok.
NGO Angelia
Brought 1,700 kg of used medical electric beds and used clothing from Möckern and Brünnau in Germany to Chernivtsi.
Kseniia’s Team - NGO Livyj Bereh (“Left Bank”)
3 houses restored in Slatyne. Slatyne is unfortunately close to the unfolding Russian offensive at the northern border.
Darya, based in Kharkiv, evacuated 9 people from Borova.
Covered 75 blown-out windows in Saltivka.
23 food packages delivered to frontline Kindrashivka.
150 packages delivered to Fedorivka.
Karina’s Team - We Save Dnipro
61 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch (“Help is Near”)
Distributed 275 aid packages in Odnorobivka, Kharkiv Region, near border with Russia
Distributed 50 aid packages to old and disabled residents in Smila via department of social services.
Timur’s Team – Timur and Team
Evacuated civilians from the oncoming Russian assault in the Kharkiv Region.
Distributed 300 food packages to people in Saltivka.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams - (“Touch of Heart” and “Dawn of Hope”)
1,867 people received help in the Mykolaiv office.
300 aid packages were delivered to Partizanske, Kyselivka and Novohryhorivka.
1.5 tons of water delivered to Novohryhorivka.
Team began rebuilding roofs in the village of Prybuzke.
Kirill, Marina, Andriy - Pomahaem Foundation (“We Help”)
Delivered packages to 873 families in Kherson, Bilozerka and Pryozerne (near Kherson).
2 trips to the area around Chuhuiv (Kharkiv Region) conducting 352 interviews to vet GFFO aid recipients.
Marina’s Team – Give Good Ukraine
150 families received aid in Zhovti Vody.
Dina’s Team - Vilni Liudy – Vilna Krayina (“Free People - Free Country”)
Distributed 380 packages in Kremenchuk, Poltava, Krasnokutsk, Kanev, and Dnipro.
Sergiy T traveled to the town of Zavody near Izyum, delivering 45 packages of hygiene products and pet food.
Bogdan’s Team - Vse robymo sami (“We do everything ourselves”)
During a weekly club meeting for children with disabilities, kids visited the Inclusive Children's Center "House of Joy" for the first time and then learned how to grill barbecue on the territory of the center. These classes help children with special needs to acquire fundamental skills, reducing their reliance on caregivers. After cooking basics Bogdan plans to teach kids other essential skills needed for independent living.
42 families in need received aid in Zhytomyr.
Anastasia’s Team - LoveUA
Traveled to 2 towns near Kostyantynivka (which we cannot name for security reasons) delivering hygiene products, diapers, and pet food to 292 families.
How to Help
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