As the year draws to a close, we delve deeper into the makeup and daily work of one of our Ukrainian volunteer teams — the people who perform the often routine tasks with dedication and heart that form the foundation of our trust.

Thanks to generous sponsors, this year we are again offering a Match Drive. Through the end of the year, every donation will be matched until we reach $75,000. This money will help us deliver essential aid, dig wells for drinking water, and evacuate people from dangerous areas. Please donate to help us reach the finish line, and forward this newsletter to your network.

The people of the Donbas, who are living under threat, who have survived all this time despite Russia's indiscriminate bombings, are now horrified at the thought of being abandoned to Russian control. Giving them up would be a betrayal, and would expose Ukraine and Europe to an even more devastating future. We pray that the United States can hold on to its moral compass, standing with those who fight for their freedom against tyranny.

Inna’s team has started delivering firewood to remote villages of the Kharkiv Region. The volunteers encounter many challenges in their work of providing fuel to these remote areas along hazardous roads. One driver almost didn’t make it.

Ukraine is experiencing a growing electricity shortage, due to indiscriminate Russian airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. Many Ukrainians are facing a winter with no electricity and no heat. Providing generators and firewood will be crucial in the coming months.

The war destroys not only homes, but cultural artifcats and people’s life work. Volunteer Vasiliy recently evacuated 20 unique paintings by a local artist from Druzhkivka. Now there is hope of the paintings being preserved for future generations.

Advanes in drone techonogy have expanded the gray zones around the active frontline. These are deadly areas where enemy drones can strike at any time. Last week, the ring road around Kharkiv was closed for the first time due to the detection of enemy FPV drones. Massive airstrikes continue to pummel the city. The rising tensions have caused a renewed surge in evacuations.

A village near Starovarvarivka, located more than 20 miles away from the frontline, has recenently suffered an FPV drone attack. In the past, villages that far away from the fighting were relatively safe, but technological advances have enabled the Russians to more effectively destroy civilian infrastructure, putting more and more people in mortal danger.

In a time when many people feel helpless in the face of ongoing war, mounting world problems, and toxic politics, it’s good to remember what a big difference one person can make. When Vladyslav’s team paused their water deliveries to Mykolaiv, his absence was most definitely noticed.

The situation in the Donbas continues to deteriorate. Recently, enemy diversion and reconnaissance groups have been spotted in Druzhkivka. Its power supply has been cut, and, starting this week, the curfew has been extended from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m. of the following day. The tension is palpable, with many residents sensking that this may be the last moment for them to evacuate in an orderly fashion.

Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa – almost like clockwork, all the major cities came under massive attack last week, leaving dozens killed or injured. We’re deeply grateful that all our Ukrainian volunteers are safe for the moment.

The complexity, risk, and tension for our Urkainian teams working near the front lines keeps rising. The volunteers are somehow able to keep up with the evolution of these challenges, though it seems that their efforts come at ever greater personal cost.

The 184th newsletter documenting the work of Ukrainian volunteers for the week of Sep 8 - Sep 14. 

Last week marked a familiar trend, with Russia’s brutality reaching new highs. In their attack last Sunday, Russian forces deployed a record of 805 drones. At this point in the war it can be hard to be shocked by these numbers, but we must resist the tendency to normalize such inhumane attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population.

We sometimes end a fundraising or event speech with the words “don’t forget about Ukraine”. It is more than a cliche; it is incredibly important that despite all the other challenges in our lives we remember what is going on in Ukraine every day. 

Last week several UTC volunteers and over 100 other participants took part part in the Scranton 4 Ukraine 5K run. The fourth annual run raised thousands of dollars for Ukraine TrustChain, which we will use to deliver critically needed aid. Perhaps just as importantly, the run reconnected hundreds of Americans to Ukraine; we hope that this connection will persist. 

Every time the American government and Western media discuss the possibility of a peace deal, there is a deterioration of the situation on the ground in Ukraine. While the front line has remained largely stable in recent days. Russia’s increased violence has killed and displaced many civilians. We have seen a growing stream of refugees heading West out of the Donbas.

A significant frontline shift near the town of Dobropillya is cutting off key highways our teams have used from the start of the war to deliver life-saving aid to the Donbas. The volunteers we support are fearless people, but we encourage them not to take unnecessary risks at this precarious moment.

After 10 days of escalating, well organized, but peaceful mass demonstrations, the Ukrainian government reversed its decision to weaken the independence of the country’s anti-corruption agencies. restoring their independence.

The ability of Ukrainian society to self-organize and advocate for its institutions with clarity and force in the middle of a brutal war is remarkable.

While at a distance the war in Ukraine seems to be at a standstill, volunteers on the ground are witnessing developments that are moving in an alarming direction. Our evacuation teams have had to adjust their routes again this week. Last week, the town of Bilyts’ke became a drone kill zone. Thanks to your support, evacuations were able to continue until the very last possible day.