October 26, 2023
56,863 people evacuated from danger to date
181 people evacuated from danger this week
41 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories
As we write this report we are anxiously following the news from Washington where the faction skeptical of providing aid to Ukraine is getting a lot of attention and some of its most outspoken representatives are rising to power.
Meanwhile, the next few weeks will be critical for winter aid. As rains and snow become more frequent, the roads in deoccupied regions, mined and damaged by artillery fire, might become impassable. These regions around Kherson, Kharkiv and Donbas are also areas where volunteers have focused their efforts (see stories below). During winter it would become difficult to transport heavier loads, such as water and firewood. Landmines exacerbate the situation because trucks cannot take detours or drive on the side of the road to avoid broken roads. At the moment our teams are racing against the clock to bring in bulk vegetable deliveries, firewood and building materials to repair homes before the winter sets in. Ukraine TrustChain is responding by accelerating the rate of deployment of our reserves, so that winter-related aid arrives in October-November rather than in the middle of the winter.
Stories
Aid to Donetsk Region (Donbas)
For the last two weeks Natalia has been preparing for a return trip to Siversk. We provided funding for the carefully-curated mix that included candles, hygienic products and food. Other organizations contributed clothing and dairy products.
Two days before the scheduled departure date Natalia received word from the military units with whom she was in contact telling her in colorful Ukrainian how serious the situation in Siversk was due to daily airstrikes and discouraging her from going. We assumed Natalia would postpone her trip, but three days later she surprised us with a voice memo that she was already coming back from Siversk. She shared the details of the trip.
On the way to Siversk, their car broke down and they lost a few hours searching for the mechanic and replacing the damaged parts. As a result, they were turned around at the checkpoint and had to spend the night in Kramatorsk. Currently, you cannot drive into the city without military guides. In the morning, though, Natalia met up with her contacts and despite ongoing bombardment completed her mission, delivering 250 packages to the local residents and shelter. She also paid a visit to Baba Tania, whom Natasha connected with her relatives on her last visit.
Although our team was delighted Natasha was safe and admired her courage, we continue to worry about the risk our volunteers take to deliver these seemingly simple items– candles, dairy, soap.
Aid to Kherson Region
Berislav and other towns along the Dnipro River near Kherson were declared as mandatory evacuation zones. Our teams are preparing to assist in evacuations and are awaiting information on what will be needed for those who would unfortunately decide to stay behind.
In the meantime, Alena traveled to Daryivka, across the river from fierce battles on the left bank where Ukrainian troops were trying to take hold. Alena’s team brought aid packages and treats for the kids, cement, household supplies, and a large number of electrical cables and wires. They also dropped some of this aid in Kherson’s Oil-harbor district. They delivered 1 ton of cement and plaster, 1,000 meters of cables, 180 bags of treats, 40 bags of household and industrial supplies. Additionally, they brought 50 pairs of children’s shoes, 100 sets of donated kids’ clothing from Ukrainian brands and retailers, and 360 cans of food.
Within Kherson our teams continued to disinfect and winterize homes. Svitlana and her team distributed 190 packages, while a little bit further north, Andriy and his team began distribution of home repair materials. Our existing routes supporting villages between Kherson and Mykolaiv ran as usual delivering water, warm clothing and aid to residents who returned to the villages over the summer.
Aid to Kharkiv Region
Sergey T, co-founder of Vilny Lyudi-Vilna Kraina, along with the Holy Generation traveled to two small towns in the Izyum area delivering 500 packages of aid. One town, which had a population of 1,500 before the war, then had only 50 earlier in the war, now has 600 people. The other town is completely destroyed. Currently only 30 people remain there without electricity. The town’s pre-war population was 800.
There were four other teams working in the Kharkiv region last week – repairing roofs, distributing aid at their distribution centers, and attempting to evacuate people from frontline villages, unfortunately without success.
Occupied Territories
More than 15 people were evacuated from the Russian-occupied left bank in the last two weeks. The intensity of shelling has greatly increased recently, driving demand for evacuations from people who were unwilling to leave until now, but also making evacuations that much more dangerous and difficult. The volunteers are no longer sure if it will be possible to evacuate certain bed-ridden patients.
Here is a story from our volunteers about one couple -- Lydia and Yuri, who recently chose to leave.
Lydia is a smiling, sturdy woman with the stern voice of a teacher. The couple moved to the village because Lydia is an agronomist. They lived there for half their lives and never intended to leave -- "Who will restore everything here later?" When they finally agreed to evacuate, the couple went to Kherson, to stay with a huge family of relatives. Both cultured and unpretentious, Lydia and Yuri are lovely, modest people, one of our easiest cases, despite a raft of medical diagnoses.
Other teams continued to distribute aid in 4 towns in the occupied territories reaching 310 families.
Team summaries
Ihor NGO Dobra Sprava (“Good Cause”)
164 people evacuated in the course of 16 trips to Mykolaiv, Kramatorsk, Sloviansk, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk and Kherson areas.
Delivered pet food to a shelter which houses animals evacuated from Bakhmut.
Anastasia - NGO LoveUA
While Anastasia is preparing for another trip into Donetsk she was awarded a medal for her support of the resistance effort. We congratulate Anastasia on her third medal.
Inna’s Team
Same as last week 25.4 tons was distributed to 8,450 people in 39 villages and towns.
9,500 people received bread.
Flood relief in Kherson:
Pumped water out and dehumidified 3 homes;
Disinfected 4 homes;
Exterminated rats in 4 buildings;
Installed windows in one of the buildings dehumidified;
Performed 13 generator refuelings, repairs and replacements.
Aid delivered to Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka.
Delivered firewood to close to 200 tons of firewood to 90 families in Chuhuev and Pechenihi.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Pavlo V (Dnipro): delivered 1.5 tons of groceries and 650 loaves of bread to poor, disabled and internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Dnipropetrovsk Region and 500 loaves of bread to IDPs and the poor around Kryvyi Rih.
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): delivered 2 pallets of diapers to the Poltava Region, 2 tons of aid to the border villages of the Sumy Region and 300 liters of water for invincibility points to the State Emergency Service in the Kyiv Region. Also brought cargo van from Finland, loaded with 1,100 kg of humanitarian aid.
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): transported 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 7 tons of water, 500 liters of bottled water and 3 tons of pears from Mykolaiv to Kherson.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 2,000 people.
Yuri S (Vinnytsia): delivered 500 kg of grains and 700 kg of clothes for IDPs and the poor in Vinnytsia, 700 kg of apples from Bruslyniv (Vinnytsia Region) to Mykolaiv and fitness equipment from Germany for a disabled person who ordered it.
Oleksandr D (Lutsk): delivered 800 kg of energy bars and muesli to Dnipro and Kherson for further distribution.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): held 4 art therapy sessions for children in Lutsk and Ozertse (Volyn Region) for IDP children, disabled children, children from military and large families. Also helped with food, held social events, took children to concerts and volunteered at the local school. In all 114 children received services.
NGO Angelia
Angelia Mobile Clinic: traveled to Mykhailivka-Rubezhivka and Borodianka in the Kyiv Region, providing 461 medical services to 121 patients.
Kseniia’s Team - NGO Livyj Bereh
Installed 5 new roofs in Slatyne village; 269 roofs rebuilt so far.
190 packages delivered to villages around Kherson: Pryozerne, Bilozerka, Posad-Pokrovsk.
Natasha - Vysnia Volunteer Center
Delivered 250 packages to Siversk, candles, flashlight batteries, and supplies for a local bomb shelter.
Karina - We Save Dnipro
73 people in shelter.
Delivered medicine to Nikopol/Marhanets, and Kryvyi Rih hospitals.
Alena - Virgo
Delivered 2 tons of aid and home-repair supplies to Kherson and nearby villages
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch
Distributed 70 packages to elderly residents and those with disabilities in Smila through the department of social services.
Timur’s Team-Timur and Team
This week the team traveled to several settlements right near the front line. They report a harrowing scene with few people left and destruction everywhere. Everyone they helped was elderly, and many have serious disabilities. These areas are under daily shelling with no functional social services. Yet the people stay because they feel that they have nowhere else to go. If the area remains accessible, the team will try to return with additional supplies to last them through the winter.
Delivered 200 packages to Novoosynove and another 120 to Kurylivka, both right next to front lines.
Distributed 250 regular packages in Saltivka, Kharkiv and another 30 to elderly with disabilities and children.
Pavel and Olena - Touch of Heart and Dawn of Hope
2,326 people received aid in Mykolaiv.
Again 6 tons of water delivered to Novopavlivske and Kobzartsi.
Delivered 1.5 tons of clothes to Novopavlivske.
Delivered .3 tons of apples donated by a farmer to the village of Novohryhorivka.
Andriy - BF Pomahaem
Made two trips to Bilozerka (Kherson suburb) delivering 456 packages.
In preparation for the winter, Andriy’s team is helping families fix their homes in the Kherson region by delivering concrete, plaster and lumber to Snihurivka and nearby towns.
Other team members traveled to Chernihiv where we are preparing to sponsor small-scale home repairs for families in need.
Marina – Good Give Ukraine
In the Piatykhatky region, 150 aid packages were distributed to elderly individuals who are solitary and do not have family support. Only social workers visit these residents, making volunteer assistance critically important.
Food and hygiene packages were sent to displaced families with children in various parts of Ukraine.
Dina - Vilni Liudy – Vilna Krayina
Distributed 480 and mailed 100 more packages of humanitarian aid.
Sent 200 kg of pet food to a dog shelter.
Sent medicine to a hospital in the Donetsk region.
Bogdan - Vse robymo sami
42 families received food and hygiene assistance this week.
Children who are under the care of the "We do it ourselves" organization enjoyed another field trip, this time visiting the zoo.
Children in the club for children with disabilities engaged in crafting activities and continued to develop their basic cooking skills.
Therapy sessions are ongoing for all the children affected by the war.
How to Help
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