September 5th, 2024
64,403 people evacuated from danger to date
163 people evacuated from danger this week
36 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
Another week in Ukraine. Last Monday, 236 rockets and drones struck various regions across the country. A few hours later a hotel was destroyed in the center of Kryvyi Rih — our team there is safe. On Tuesday, 81 Iranian-made drones and 10 rockets were launched again. Wednesday night brought 71 more drones — Kyiv teams had to take cover and sleep in their bathrooms. On Friday, there were airstrikes in Kherson, and 12 more Shahed kamikaze drones hit central Ukraine. Then came another sleepless night on Saturday.
On Sunday, at 4:00 AM, just before the start of the school year, the Russians attacked all major cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and others. Later in the morning, the kids were sleepy, but excited about their first day of school. The Russians didn’t stop during the day, however, dropping bombs on Kharkiv and wounding 40 people.
The drumbeat of war crimes continued this week in Poltava, Sumy, and Pokrovsk. We watch the onslaught through the eyes of our Ukrainian volunteers, who deal with the daily consequences of these attacks. We wonder what it would take to finally justify the right of Ukrainians to strike back against the airfields from which these horrors are unleashed.
Stories
A Torn and Crumpled Childhood
One of the Dobra sprava volunteers involved in the evacuation of the Donetsk frontline towns ahead of the Russian advance was recently undone by the picture of a young girl.
To be honest, I've been in a difficult emotional state. I'm a grown man -- I've seen a lot in life. But this time something got to me... all because I allowed myself to look at the picture of a young girl, whom we had evacuated together with her mother. I allowed myself to really look and feel...
The girl in the photo is maybe 10, or 11 years old, but the look in her eyes is so grown up, and wise beyond her years, but [also] very tired. You can see in her an adult's grasp of her complicated situation, a depth of understanding, and together with that pain and sadness.
The little dog which she is holding so carefully, also understands her state, and is trying not to cause its little owner any more trouble. It's quietly hanging [on her arm], waiting for what comes next.
Her napsack, once bright pink, clean and cared for, used to be her trusted companion in school. Now it's just a dusty bag, dirty from explosions, in which she's managed to carry away a few personal belongings.
She's holding a gift bag, in which she once received a holiday present. She must have valued this bag so much and kept it for the many happy and joyful childhood memories this holiday had brought her. Now, this torn bag in her little hands is a symbol of her own torn, crumpled and shattered childhood.
I don't know how her young life will unfold from here. It seems to me she has some inner strength. I hope that it will help her cope and overcome the difficulties and tragedies of war. [I hope that] she will stay a patriot of her country and won't ever forgive its enemies, who tore up her childhood like an old gift bag. Why do I think this? It's all in the t-shirt she's wearing: ["Good evening. We're from Ukraine."]
Surge of Evacuees at the Dnipro Shelter
Karina’s team in Dnipro is experiencing a surge of newcomers at their shelter. Earlier this year, evacuations had slowed down and many shelters closed their doors. We wondered if it still made sense to Karina’s shelter open — now we’re glad we did.
In addition to the 112 regulars who have been living at the shelter for a few months and contribute to its utility payments, but can’t afford an apartment of their own, there are now 20-30 people who come through and stay for a few days or a couple of weeks before continuing on their travels West. Tatiana, a volunteer on Karina’s team gives us a snapshot of one such family:
Today, I spoke with a family — a mother and her three children (two teenagers), from Vyshneve [a tiny town just outside of Pokrovsk]. Their house is no longer standing. They are currently processing documents in Dnipro and preparing to get passports to go abroad. The children are mentally exhausted and have a number of illnesses, both physical and psychological. Most of the new evacuees plan to go abroad.
Help in Occupied Territories
150 packages distributed in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
19 trips, 163 people evacuated from Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, Selydove, Ukrains'k, Hirnyk, and Kurakhove areas.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
20.7 tons of aid delivered to 8,000 people.
Additional 4,000 people received bread.
Kherson operations:
Disinfected 13 buildings.
Performed disinfection services for 4 local army warehouses and locations.
Organized camp for Kherson children in Chernomorsk.
Provided aid in besieged Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka where pharmacies and stores are shutting down.
Brought aid to Kramatorsk, Slaviansk, Nikopol, Zakamianka, and Chistopol.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv.
Andriy P (Mykolaiv): brought 900 kg of aid from Germany to Mykolaiv, including 2 refrigerators, 3 beds, 3 bicycles, dishes, clothing, bedding, household items, and furniture.
Yuri S (Vinnytsia): delivered 100 kg of aid – clothing, groceries and a baby bed – for 2 internally displaced (IDP) women in the village of Tarasivka (Vinnytsia Region). Took a disabled person to a social rehabilitation appointment.
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): delivered 4 tons of food kits, clothes, medicines and animal feed to Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka (Donetsk Region), less than 2 miles away from the front lines. Delivered 2 tons of aid near Pokrovsk. Delivered 100 pairs of Irish-made shoes and uniforms to firefighters at the Ministry of Emergency Situations in Kharkiv.
Oleksandr D (Lutsk): delivered 1,300 kg of aid from Germany (mentioned last week) to Zaporizhzhia. Aid includes mattresses, bed sets, strollers for children, children's toys, children's clothes, and hygiene products.
Oksana K (Lutsk): Sent a 30 kg aid package to a large family in the Dnipropetrovsk Region and another package to a family with a disabled child in the Ternopil Region. Sent 300-400 kg of aid to the East. Brought diapers for adults for a family with a bedridden patient in Kivertsi (Volyn Region). Brought groceries to IDPs in the Volyn Region.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions and aid for IDP children and adults, children with disabilities, children from large families and from military families.
Staged an exhibit, displaying the drawings of 27 children from the Donetsk Region.
Visited a museum with 58 IDPs.
Held art therapy for 16 military women.
Provided assistance with clothes and shoes to 60 disabled and elderly people.
Helped 260 IDP children with bread and other food.
Provided 66 physical therapy and wellness sessions for recent refugees from the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Regions, as well as to other displaced persons who need physical rehabilitation.
Kseniia’s Team — Livyj bereh (Left Bank)
1 roof finished in Kharkiv Region.
Roof repairs beginning in Zaporizzhia Region.
Karina’s Team — My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
140 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team — Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Delivered 155 aid packages to the village of Krutoyarivka on the border between Dnipro and Donetsk regions where many refugees from Pokrovsk fled.
Delivered aid to orphanage in Mykhailivka, Cherkasy Region.
Timur’s Team — Komanda Teymura Alyeva (Timur Alyev’s Team)
Distributed aid to 378 people in Saltivka, Kharkiv Region.
Provided Diapers for 45 babies and 15 disabled elderly.
Evacuated 17 people from Kivsharivka, Kurilovka, and Kupiansk.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams — Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
1,320 people received aid in Mykolaiv.
70 packages delivered to Luch.
3 tons of water delivered to Novohryhorivka.
Starting a fuel briquette program in Kherson Region.
Pomahaem Foundation (We Help Foundation)
495 packages delivered to Kharkiv Region villages (Shevchenkovo and Velykyi Burluk).
250 families helped in Zasillia (deoccupied village near Mykolaiv).
Additional assistance provided to 71 children and disabled people.
10.5 ton of water delivered to Nikopol.
3 trips to Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk to vet recipients of cash aid from Mercy Corps and GFFO.
Marina’s Team — Daruy dobro Ukrayina (Give Good Ukraine)
130 food and hygiene packages were distributed to internally displaced families in Piatyhatky .
20 packages were sent to people affected by war in different parts of Ukraine.
Ultrasound equipment was donated to the maternity ward of the Zhovti Vody hospital.
Dina’s Team — Vilʹni lyudy, vilʹna krayina (Free People, Free Country)
416 packages distributed in Kanev, Kremenchuk, Krasnokutsk, and Poltava.
Another 100 packages mailed from Dnipro.
Bohdan’s Team — Vse robymo sami (We Do Everything Ourselves)
42 families received food and hygiene kits in Zhytomyr.
At club for children with disabilities kids and their parents took a day field trip to athe Karpaty mountains.
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.