September 1st is the first day of school in Ukraine. While there were many other themes and projects in the life of Ukrainian volunteers last week, September 1st took the center stage despite ongoing battles and rocket attacks on peaceful cities.

Last week I, Daniil, founder of Ukraine TrustChain, arrived in Ukraine. This is the 3rd trip that I have taken to Ukraine since the start of the war. We want to reconnect with UTC volunteers in person as well as to show our solidarity and support, but also to experience first-hand the needs of Ukraine with which we are able to help thanks to your continued donations.

Today is Ukraine’s 32nd Independence Day. The expression freedom isn’t free is fitting to describe the heavy price Ukraine has had to pay for its independence over the last year and a half, and throughout the previous nine years.

In these weeks, several of our volunteers shared that they lost friends serving in the armed forces of Ukraine.

Last week our key evacuation team Dobra Sprava went on a special mission delivering 2 tons of aid to a hospital in Toretsk, the frontline town mere 5 miles away from the raging frontline.

We continue to proudly support efforts to help people living under occupation, whose lives have become completely untenable to evacuate to Ukraine or in some cases to their families temporarily residing in nearby free countries.

Last week was marked with massive strikes on Odesa damaging nearly 60 buildings, including cathedrals and architectural landmarks – UNESCO World Heritage sites – in the heart of this vibrant city

We continue to support evacuations bringing Ukrainians back into Ukraine territory

In the last five weeks UTC funding helped 890 people escape from Russia-controlled territories.

The volunteer network we support operates at peak capacity.

Multiple teams risk their lives evacuating residents from Russian-occupied territories on the left bank

We are only two weeks away from the Kakhovka Dam disaster - a tragic milestone in the war and one of busiest times for Ukraine TrustChain US.

This week felt like the very first of this war. Hours of effort compressed into minutes replete with life-changing decisions. It was full of extremes and of human suffering, but also it demonstrated once again the might and dignity of Ukraine’s civil society and its volunteers standing up to the inhumanity of Russia’s aggression.

Early morning on June 6th, Russia destroyed the Kakhovka dam causing a humanitarian and an ecological catastrophe

The last two weeks and past three days in particular have been marked by relentless aerial attacks

Last week several members of the US team attended the annual fundraiser gala for our close partner Project Kesher in New York.

UTC partnered with the Ukrainian-American Crisis Response Committee of Michigan to restore schools in Ukraine.

Another ordinary week in the lives of our volunteers, full of hard work and emotional trials.

Of dozens of missiles, one hit a large apartment block in Uman, a town far from the front line or any military infrastructure. The strike killed 25 people, including 6 children, and injured dozens.

April 20th was International Volunteer Recognition Day. We want to take this opportunity to celebrate our volunteers, without whom Ukraine TrustChain would be unable to exist.