KHERSON REGION
KHERSON
Autumn has begun, but the situation with pests is only getting worse. Whereas before, mice only moved into nearby homes at the end of autumn, now they’ve settled in people’s urban homes, and their population is growing. Therefore, we always purchase large batches of poison.
One day, three rounds of deratization were carried out. Disinsection operations continue. Many people are asking to poison basements to get rid of fleas. The demand for this service never ends. The team prepares for these tasks very responsibly. Personal protective equipment is extremely important: suits, masks, gloves, and footwear.
We also continue to refuel generators to provide people with electricity. This is a huge issue across Ukraine, especially in the Kherson region, where power outages are constant. That’s why we are constantly refueling generators.
However, there are exceptions when we are unable to help with a generator.
This week, Ms. Alina, a primary school teacher who conducts online lessons for our Kherson children, reached out to us for help. Due to significant power outages, she simply cannot conduct her classes, putting the children’s education and her job at risk. She asked us for some sort of lighting solution. We couldn’t provide a generator because she lives on the 16th floor, and we simply don’t have enough extension cords to power it up there. Therefore, we decided to buy a power station.
Ms. Alina is very grateful for this power station, which will allow her to continue teaching the children.
BERYSLAV
The Berislav district administration contacted us for help:
“The residents of our community are in need of clothing. If you have the opportunity, please remember us.”
Together, we collected over a ton of clothing, and the residents of the Berislav community were very grateful for this.
DONETSK REGION
KRAMATORSK, SLAVIANSK
For three weeks in a row, there have been continuous evacuation notices in this region of the Donetsk region. People who remain in Donetsk receive regular alerts about evacuation. There has been a particularly intense evacuation from Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. A few weeks ago, people from Pokrovsk were relocating to Kramatorsk, but now they are trying to leave Kramatorsk as well.
In Kramatorsk, the overall situation hasn’t changed much, but the situation across the region has worsened. Since Pokrovsk is like the gateway to Donetsk, people are concerned about what will happen next, and some are already seeking ways to leave.
How are we helping people in this region right now? In addition to providing food and hygiene supplies, we are focusing on psychological support. We are talking with people, planning with them, and thinking about what to do next.
KOSTIANTYNIVKA, DRUZHKIVKA
The city is under harsher shelling. In the summer, we reported that the city’s water pumping station was bombed. The water issue in the city remains unresolved. We are eagerly awaiting help in this matter. People are in desperate need of water.
We arrived with cleaning supplies for distribution because there is a particular need for them in this region. We handed them out amid the sound of artillery.
Despite this, 120 people received aid. Valentina expressed her thanks for the wheelchair. Her husband, after suffering a stroke, began to recover. There was nowhere to get a wheelchair, and they couldn’t afford one. She is very grateful. Thanks to the wheelchair, her husband can now move around the room.
KHARKIV REGION
IZIUM DISTRICT, VILLAGE OF STUDYNOK
Due to the prolonged hot weather, there is a critical fire hazard situation. The fields and groves around the village have become overgrown with tall, dry weeds, as these areas were heavily mined during the occupation. As wild animals step on the mines, chaotic fires break out in the fields and forests.
At the moment, large areas in the Izium district are engulfed in flames. The State Emergency Service is unable to extinguish them for the same reason – the forests and fields are mined. On September 1st, due to strong winds, the fire spread to the streets of Studynok village, resulting in the destruction of 157 homes.
About 300 people have been temporarily relocated to schools and kindergartens. They were evacuated in a hurry and couldn’t save anything. These people are in urgent need of basic necessities.
They are asking for comprehensive help for the fire victims – food (oil, canned meat, buckwheat, pasta, sugar), water, and especially hygiene products (soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, toothpaste, and toothbrushes), as well as bedding.
The village administration contacted us, saying they managed to find shelter for the people but can’t provide them with essentials. We hope that even a small opportunity will arise to help these people, who have already endured two and a half years of war, occupation, and now fires.
The fire has been localized, and people have been placed in 94 houses – small kitchens, garages, and homes. People are living in groups of 2-3 families, with up to 15 people per house. Naturally, they are thinking about how to move forward.
ZNAMENKA
Moderate evacuation is ongoing in the region, but it is voluntary, and no one is being forced. Additionally, there is a moderate influx of new people from more dangerous regions. People arrive, have the chance to rest a bit, and decide whether to move further or stay in the area.
This week, we organized food for newly arrived internally displaced persons.
We were also able to gather children of displaced persons and veterans’ children. We had about 50 children and slightly more adults. On Saturday, we organized an event for them, including a quest for the children to distract them.
In Nova Vodolaha, in this region, about 150 people come to us weekly, where we can help them with bread.
Although the turnout is small, this is not a big issue.
“My name is Svitlana Myroshko, I’m 84 years old. I live alone. I receive a pension and a subsidy. Every week, a neighbor brings me two loaves of bread. Fresh, fragrant, and soft. How grateful I am to you. Grateful to everyone who bakes the bread, and to those who pay for it. I wish for peace to come soon!”
KHARKIV
KAMIANA YARUGA, MALA DANYLIVKA
The situation with electricity in the city has deteriorated significantly, and we are helping as much as we can. We are providing people with the opportunity to charge their gadgets, flashlights, take showers, and do laundry.
DNIPROPETROVSK REGION
NIKOPOL
We continue to work as before in all the available directions.
The situation in Nikopol is very difficult. Constant shelling and bad news are hard to bear psychologically. Our volunteers in the region now more than ever understand the depth of the phrase: “When you feel bad, serve those who are in worse conditions.” They realize that through service, they manage to distract themselves from dark thoughts and the grim realities of today. This sense of purpose helps them stay strong, and service has proven to be a very effective remedy.
We never thought that our activity would grow so much, becoming a blessing for so many people in the city and the entire region.
Last week, we operated out of our help center, distributing aid.
In addition to food, we distributed three tons of drinking water, which is critical for this long-suffering city.
Last week, we made two trips to the area as part of a program to distribute glasses.
We visited the village of Katerynivka, another stop on our route.
We traveled there twice a week to serve everyone in need. Overall, we helped 120 people and distributed about 160 pairs of glasses.
Today, our trips are greatly complicated by electricity issues in the villages. Power is out for 13-15 hours at a time. Serving people requires good lighting to ensure the glasses are fitted correctly. Behind all of this work is a tremendous amount of effort and nerves.
KAMIANSKE
The help center in Kamianske worked efficiently. The “Berehynia” club was mastering new skills, while massages, free lunches, and hairdressing services continued to be in high demand.
We received a lot of positive feedback, both oral and written.
“I am Lyudmyla, 54 years old, a resident of Bakhmut. At the beginning of the war, my brother suggested that I come stay with him in Khmelnytskyi Oblast to wait out the conflict, so my daughter, granddaughter, and I left. We lived in western Ukraine for three months but couldn’t find work, so we decided to move to Dnipro. Now, we rent an apartment in Kamianske, though before the war, we had renovated our house, replacing plumbing and doing repairs, with only the second floor left to finish. Unfortunately, today only the foundation remains of our home. I am very grateful to the sponsors for the humanitarian aid I received in Kamianske for the first time. More organizations like this should be established across Ukraine.”
KRYVYI RIH
This week in Kryvyi Rih, we held discussions with children and teenagers on the topic “I am a person among people.” We talked about the inner world of people, which doesn’t always match their outward appearance. Afterwards, we organized a photo session for the children, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
Adults weren’t left out either, as we held a lecture as part of the “Healing Emotional Wounds” series.
NOVOMOSKOVSK
In Novomoskovsk, people love working with teenagers and children. This week, we organized a meeting where we played games, solved puzzles, and cracked riddles.
With teenagers, we discussed the topic: “Every word matters in life. Cherish every moment in life.” For the youngest children, we began a series of lessons on health.
DNIPRO
In Dnipro, two humanitarian aid centers and two distribution points are actively working. People are registering for assistance through updated forms, and we are happy to provide them with what they need.
Hairdressers and masseurs worked tirelessly all week. The children’s class was always lively, as the trainers held lessons on the topic “Family secrets”—and who knows how many more secrets remain undiscovered
