May 23, 2024
61,652 people evacuated from danger to date
168 people evacuated from danger this week
34 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories this week
Two recent developments have made volunteering in Ukraine more difficult in the last two weeks. One of them is the new Russian offensive north of Kharkiv, which is being conducted with absolute predatory ruthlessness, making no distinction between military units and civilians. This is causing a surge in evacuations and refugee flows, while increasing risks for our volunteer teams.
At the same time, a new mobilization law went into effect last week to address Ukraine’s need for soldiers. Draft police have been extremely active in apprehending individuals to ensure they are not evading the draft. These measures are necessary, but they have added complexity to our teams’ logistical planning. Women drivers are in short supply for long-range deliveries of valuable cargo. It has also become more difficult to find men for roof restoration projects, and loading and unloading of trucks. Unfortunately being a fulltime volunteer does not give you any protection against the draft. However, our teams are not giving up. They are used to dealing with additional layers of complexity, while putting your donations to great use.
Stories
Vovchansk Offensive
Our teams continue to evacuate people from the new frontline that opened up 20 miles north of Kharkiv near the border town of Vovchans’k. There, Russian forces have been bombing residential areas with no regard for civilian casualties. On her way toward the frontline, Darya and her driver nearly got killed by an airstrike as they drove through the village of Cherkaska Lozova. Yet Darya pressed on and evacuated three elderly people from Slobozhanske, who managed to get to the village on foot. Darya and her partner fell asleep immediately upon their successful return to Kharkiv from emotional overstrain.
Other teams help refugees as they arrive in Kharkiv. Serhiy Tiora from Dina’s team arranged and delivered aid to 160 elderly refugees temporarily housed in Kharkiv by the city administration.
Two Stories of Civilian Escape
Our information about war crimes Russians are committing in Vovchans’k and elsewhere come not only from the news but through direct eye-witness accounts that reach us through our volunteers. Here are two stories conveyed by our volunteers this week:
One of the women who managed to escape the ongoing Vovchans’k massacre is Olena. She arrived in Kremenchuk shell-shocked in her house slippers. Yulia, a volunteer on Dina’s team, supplied her with clothes, bedding, food, hygiene products, and dishes. Olena’s husband is being treated in the Kremenchuk hospital for injuries he sustained when a missile struck their home and trapped them in the rubble. Here is Olena’s story in her own words:
“My husband and I were in our house. When we realized that the explosions were very close, we wanted to hide in the basement, but we didn't make it in time. A strike hit the room we were in and we were buried under a collapsed wall. After some time, we regained consciousness and managed to get out from under the debris. Neighbors helped put out the fire, [but] the shelling did not stop.
“We left the city, but on the way realized that we were without our documents and returned home. It was impossible to drive up to [our] house, so I went on foot. My injured husband stayed in the car. I was only able to take the documents and medicines with me [before leaving again].”
Another story comes from Marina’s Team, “Give Good Ukraine,” who delivered aid to Zhovti Vody in Dnipropetrovsk Region. One recipient, 75-year-old Nadiya Volodymyrivna Sagdesva suffered a severe leg injury and almost lost her hearing while trying to escape shelling with her sister and son in an evacuation vehicle. Her sister died from her wounds. After finding shelter in Zhovti Vody, Nadiya lived with her son, who later died of an illness. Now all alone, she cannot survive without support from caring people.
Olena’s house in Vovchans’k
Spotting Wartime Scams
This week we received an email from one of our supporters telling us that she met someone on social media who claimed to be a soldier in the Ukrainian army stationed near Odesa. The purported soldier told our supporter that they did not have enough food to eat, and repeatedly asked him to send money.
We suggested that one of the volunteers in our Odesa network reach out to the “soldier” to help them with food, but, as you may have already guessed, this turned out to be a scam. As soon as the individual realized they would not be getting money, they disappeared.
We share this story as a reminder that the war gives scammers a chance to prey on well-meaning folks. If you are talking to someone on social media who claims to be a Ukrainian in need of aid and you are not sure if you can trust this person, please feel free to write to us! We will do our best to help you determine the legitimacy of the request.
Aid in Occupied Territories
3 people were evacuated from the Russian-occupied left bank. 205 people received aid in 3 occupied towns.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra Sprava (“Good Cause”)
150 people evacuated in 16 trips to the dangerous areas of Selydove, Novohrodivka, Lyman, Kostyantynivka, Myrnohrad, Kurakhove and Kherson.
Inna’s Team – Krok z Nadiyeyu (“Step with Hope”)
9,500 people received bread.
Aid delivered to 8,350 people – 21.4 tons total.
1,000 refugee families living in Dnipro Region received seedlings.
Work in Kherson:
Exterminations in 11 buildings, including 9 large basements of multi-story buildings.
Mold removal in 1 apartment and 1 basement.
13 equipment maintenance tasks completed.
Delivered aid to Druzhkivka and brought a hairdresser who cut people’s hair for free.
Delivered aid to Nikopol and water to nearby Mendeliivka.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): Oleksandr’s volunteer Andriy V and his team distributed 2,500 kg of food and clothing in Kherson.
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 14 tons to Kherson.
Andriy P (Mykolaiv): Purchased Renault Midlum truck in Germany and loaded it with 3.5 tons of expensive medications and pillows. Andriy’s volunteer Mykhailo brought 21 tons of aid from “Hands of Mercy” in Chernivtsi to Zaporizhzhia. The aid included over 5 tons of food products, over 5 tons of apples, mattresses, hygiene items, disinfectants, medicines and medical equipment, rollators and wheelchairs, children's beds, bottled water, clothes and shoes.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 1,000 people. Due to frequent alarms, food is usually now served in the bomb shelter instead of the station itself.
Yuri S (Vinnytsia): fed 25 people in Vinnytsia and delivered 1 ton of clothing to Voronovytsia (Vinnytsia Region).
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): delivered 3.5 tons of humanitarian aid to 3 locations in New York (Donetsk Region). All locations are within 3-4 km of the front-line trenches. Delivered 1.5 tons of medicine, netting, poles, clothes, water, dry goods, homemade food and sweets to Druzhkivka. Tested anti-drone device for protection of minibus while delivering aid.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): organized therapeutic events and provided aid for children and adults:
128 internally displaced (IDP) children, children with disabilities and children of military families attended art therapy (3 art therapy sessions total).
224 IDP children visited a museum, celebrated Vyshyvanka Day (a holiday dedicated to the wearing of traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts) in the village of Ozertse, and attended events for autistic people.
150 people received butter, flour, pasta and other groceries.
26 disabled military personnel who need prosthetics attended a support group and heard presentations from representatives of the city social welfare department, received information on healthy eating practices and participated in a yoga master class.
Kseniia’s Team - NGO Livyj Bereh (“Left Bank”)
Ksenia halted new roof repair projects near Kharkiv due to the Russian offensive near Vovchans’k.
Svitlana’s group, based in Kherson, delivered 186 packages to Oleksandrivka, Posad-Pokrovsk and Kherson.
Darya from Kharkiv evacuated 3 people from Slobozhanske.
Darya’s team also covered 16 blown out windows in Kharkiv.
Karina’s Team - We Save Dnipro
69 people living in Karina’s shelter.
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch (“Help is Near”)
Distributed 225 aid packages in the frontline town of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Region.
Timur’s Team – Timur and Team
Evacuated 12 people last week from the hard hit area near Kharkiv where the Russian troops are advancing.
Distributed food and aid to 300 people in Saltivka.
Delivered 40 packages to Shevchenkove.
Provided aid to 100 recently evacuated people from Vovchans’k.
The team was joined by a French documentary filmmaker on some of their trips last week. He wanted to record what's going on and share stories of Ukrainian bravery with people in Europe.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams - (“Touch of Heart” and “Dawn of Hope”)
Provided aid to 1,873 people in Mykolaiv.
360 families served in Afansiivka and Kobzartsi.
1.5 tons of water was brought to Novohryhorivka.
Worked on roof repairs in the Kherson region.
Kirill, Marina, Andriy - Pomahaem Foundation (“We Help”)
306 packages were delivered to Myroliubivka in Kherson Region, completing Kherson deliveries.
Completed 298 vetting interviews for cash grants In Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia Regions.
Marina’s Team – Give Good Ukraine
Incubators for premature babies, clothes and other important items were delivered to Maternity Hospital in Zhovti Vody.
150 food and hygiene kits were distributed among elderly people in Zhovi Vody.
Dina’s Team - Vilni Liudy – Vilna Krayina (“Free People - Free Country”)
Distributed and mailed 580 aid packages this week in Kremenchuk, Poltava, Krasnokutsk, Dnipro, and Kanev.
Provided bread, salt, sugar, meat and vegetables to 160 people who evacuated to Kharkiv from Vovchans’k.
Bogdan’s Team - Vse robymo sami (“We do everything ourselves”)
There was no aid distribution last week because the supplier was taken to the war.
The integrated collective "Harmony and Shine" of the children's public organization "We Do Everything Ourselves" and "Children of the Sun" won first place at the International Festival "Kyiv Unites."
In the club for children with disabilities, participants learned how to cook a spring vitamin salad, trying to cut and mix everything themselves.
Anna - Independent Nation
Continued water deliveries in Kherson villages with damaged water mains. 171 tons of water have been delivered since May 9th.
Alena’s Team - Diva
Supplied people in Beryslav with 2,000 liters of fuel for 100 generators. This will support 300 homes, or approximately 450 people for a month.
Provided 1,,000 liters of diesel fuel to power a water pump in Beryslav for half a month.
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, X (formerlyTwitter), 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 to put it up on their announcement board, or use it as part of your fundraiser.