August 24, 2023
55,184 people evacuated from danger to date
312 people evacuated from danger this week
28 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories
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.
After Ukraine wins, it may take decades to fully demine the country. With your help, we are glad to be a small but critical part of this process, restoring safety and a sense of normalcy to one community after another.
As our teams deliver aid to the newly liberated territories and help with restoration after the Kakhovka flooding, we take another step towards freedom and independence. That freedom can be a single wheelchair provided to someone that was immobile. It can also be the evacuation of hundreds from danger, including from Russian-controlled areas, to safety elsewhere in Ukraine.
Ukranians mark this holiday with hope towards the future. Please know that this is in part thanks to the thousands of you who read this letter and continue to support Ukraine.
Stories
Civil Demining
Ukraine TrustChain was awarded a Letter of Gratitude from Ukraine’s State Transportation Agency for our role in the support of the volunteer movement within Ukraine, and specifically for the facilitation of civil demining in the Kherson region. To date our support has led to demining of public infrastructure objects and residential areas in 10 communities within the Kherson region. Although the name of the Letter of Gratitude is “Ukraine TrustChain,” this gratitude is meant for you – everyone who contributed their funds to Ukraine’s volunteer teams involved in civil demining projects.
Andriy’s Shelter is Closing Its Doors
After 18 months of operations, Andriy’s shelter in the town of Voloske is closing its doors. In the feverish first days of the full-scale invasion, Andriy’s team helped turn a local school facility into a busy evacuation hub for thousands of people fleeing invading armies. Andriy’s shelter was unique as it provided three hot meals a day, healthcare services, and children’s programs. Unlike many other shelters, it was able to accommodate immobile patients and patients with severe disabilities in an inclusive and compassionate way. Over its life, 3,804 people stayed in the shelter, with severe undercounting the first weeks as people were coming and going in a continuous stream. For 1,966 people Andriy’s team was able to arrange transportation and refuge abroad.
As the war continues, people are now less likely to stay in the shelter. Voloske is a distant suburb from Dnipro, and, without driving and a car, it is difficult to find a job with a reasonable commute. As shelter residents moved out, Andriy’s team closed the shelter and prepared the school facilities for reopening as a school again as many families returned to the town of Voloske. UTC continues to collaborate with Andriy on other ongoing projects, including support of rural and refugee communities, water deliveries to Marhanets, and more, we greatly appreciate his transparency and prudence and the courage to change direction to ensure the most optimal allocation of funds.
More than 145 people along with their pets were evacuated last week from the Russian-occupied left bank; 25 of the evacuees have low mobility.
Flood Relief Operations
Kherson city council learned about the heroic daily work of Inna’s team volunteers under the direction of Oleksandr U. and has asked the team to disinfect the basement of the city hospital. The team felt it was an honor, and completed the project.
The team shared that more people seek out the volunteers to express their gratitude for their labor. One of the residents of a building disinfected by Oleksandr purchased 2 hazmat suits for them as a gift that will come in handy in the coming weeks. This gift is especially precious as it is from people who have so little left after the flood and the continuous bombardments of their hometown.
Inna’s team went on a special mission to the frontline town of Kostyantynivka delivering a wheelchair to a man with disabilities. Here is what they had to say about this trip:
“He said to us: ‘I was completely immobile before, and now I’m in a wheelchair. This gives me hope for the future, that I will get on my own feet eventually. Big thank you!’
If you could only see his tears when he simply was able to see his yard and a dog outside. It's true happiness to give people such joy. One more time Big THANK YOU!”
Kupyansk Evacuation
In addition to their regular deliveries, Timur’s team evacuated several elderly women from the Kupyansk area. The Russians have stepped up their attacks and the area has become more dangerous with parts coming under a mandatory evacuation order. Some of the elderly were afraid and did not want to leave their homes. They trusted Timur and his team because they remembered them from many deliveries over the last year. One of the grandmothers spent the first half year of the war hiding in her basement. With the increased danger she finally decided to leave, taking only her small dog and pressure cooker.
Team summaries
Ihor Dobra Sprava (“Good Cause”)
13 trips and 151 people evacuated from Druzhkivka, Svyatogirsk, Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, and Kostiantynivka areas, as well as Kherson.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Pavlo V (Dnipro): delivered 430 kg of grocery kits to internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Donetsk and Kharkiv; brought 320 loaves of bread to women’s shelter and shelter for people with disabilities.
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): delivered 2 tons of groceries, hygiene items and medicines to the Sumy Region.
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): transported 28 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 7 tons of water from Mykolaiv to Kherson.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 1,800 people including meals distributed to people for their neighbors with disabilities.
Oksana K (Lutsk): delivered 40 boxes of sweets to Kharkiv.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): held two art therapy sessions and one therapy camp for 59 children with disabilities, children from large families and children of military personnel who were killed in the war. In total, 87 children affected by the war were helped with psychological adaptation, training, food, and glasses.
Vadim T (Kamin-Kashyrskyi): delivered 1.5 tons of aid to Kharkiv, including groceries, wet wipes and baby food; evacuated two seriously wounded soldiers to Volyn.
NGO Angelia
Mobile Clinic: Between 8/14 and 8/16/23, the clinic traveled to the Kyiv region cities of Pereyaslav and Bila Tserkva. Services included family doctors, ECG, endocrinologists, psychologists and labs for blood, urine and sugar. In total 143 people received 515 services.
NGO Angelia: Delivered 4 tons of groceries, clothes, blankets and bed linens from Kyiv to Kherson.
Kseniia’s Team - NGO Livyj Bereh
Kherson team distributed aid to 188 families in Kherson, Posad-Pokrovsk and Pryozerne.
1 roof completed had to focus in Slatyne, Kharkiv.
Karina - We Save Dnipro
69 people are in the shelter.
Traveled to Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Kramatorsk, Nikopol delivering 30 packages of aid and evacuating 11 people.
Alena - Virgo
Traveled to Kamyshany, Kherson to deliver aid that will be distributed to two nearby towns: Pryozerne and Zymivnyk. Brought two cement mixers, cement, and electrical cables for 50 households that are currently being remodeled after the flood.
Traveled to Kherson delivering 40 household sets that included buckets, mops, and cleaning supplies, as well as some food and hygiene products. Also delivered 2 circular saws, 2 electric screwdrivers, and chargers for the tools.
The rescue and relief team in Kherson is continuing their work, this week cleaning 2 homes of elderly people who were unable to do the work on their own.
Inna’s Team
24.3 tons of aid was delivered to 8150 people in 38 towns. 9500 people received bread.
10 trips to frontline towns and areas with a high chance of shelling.
Flood relief operations in Kherson region:
o Performed 61 generator refuelings
o Installed three dehumidifiers
o Pumped water out of 6 buildings
o Disinfected 7 spaces including
210 aid packages delivered over the course of two trips to Berislav
80 families trapped near the Volnovakha battle zone received aid. This trip became conceivable thanks to Ukrainian advance in this area of the front. The packages were provided by other charity organizations with UTC covering transportation costs.
Delivered a wheelchair to a resident of Kostyantynivka.
65 families received help in Mykolaivka and Kramatorsk.
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch
Distributed 170 aid packages to internally displaced refugees in Smila.
Distributed 40 aid packages to elderly and people with disabilities in Smila through the department of social services.
Pavel and Olena - Touch of Heart and Dawn of Hope
1,498 refugees received help from Mykolaiv office.
Another weekly delivery of 3 tons of water to the village of Kobzartsy.
Delivered water and other aid items to the village of Novopavlivka in Kherson region.
430 packages delivered to foster homes and large families in towns of Spivakivka, Pidvysoke, Krasnokutsk near Kharkiv.
Continued programming for children.
Timur’s Team-Timur and Team
Delivered 150 packages to Saltivka, Kharkiv.
Brought 250 packages to the village of Cherkasski Tishki.
One of the teammates had surgery on his leg for which UTC helped cover the cost.
Evacuated several elderly from Kupyansk region.
Andriy - BF Pomahaem
266 package of hygienic products delivered to the Kamianske.
6 people stayed at Andriy’s shelter in the last week of its operation.
Marina – Good Give Ukraine
Distributed 122 food and hygiene aid sets to elderly people in Zhovti Vody.
Sent 28 packages to families in need who suffered from war.
Dina - Vilni Liudy – Vilna Krayina
Distributed 930 packages of aid.
Anastasia - Love UA
Delivered 300 packages of aid to Staryi Karavan, Brusivka, Karpivka all in the dangerous area near Slovyansk. These residents have been without electricity for more than a year and are mostly elderly. One grandmother asked Anastasia if they have a doctor with them to check her eyesight, as living in darkness is causing her to go blind.
Bogdan - Vse robymo sami
A group of 20 children with disabilities from the children's public organization "We Do Everything Ourselves" enjoyed a visit to a health camp in the Carpathians. The children explored Bukovel, ascended the mountain, and participated in guided excursions.
43 food kits were distributed.
US Team
UTC founder Daniil arrived in Ukraine, and we will share more about the trip in upcoming newsletters.
How to Help
Donate - The money goes directly to teams providing aid on the ground, who respond dynamically to the most urgent needs.
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Fill out this form if you’re interested in volunteering with us, and we’ll let you know when opportunities come up.
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