In the early morning of September 4th, we left the charming city of Lviv and headed to Kyiv in central Ukraine to see life in the capital and deliver our promised aid.
With military stations alongside the main road, every-day cars transformed into machines of war, and buildings fatigued by drone attacks, the reality of war is more present in Kyiv, a city that had half its territory occupied in early 2022.
Arriving around noon, we meet with Alexander Kuzniak, former leader of the youth wing of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party. Since the beginning of the war, he is a central point for the collection of civil society aid and regularly visits the front lines to deliver crucial and life-saving supplies to civilians and defenders, to which we were delighted to be able to donate six generators and a Volvo.
Being welcomed with open arms and having received both a tour of his well-hidden headquarters and warehouse, Alexander presented us with a most cherished opportunity to interview a soldier of the Ukrainian special forces, whom we will have to keep anonymous. To you, we want to express our deep-hearted gratitude to talk to us and condolences for your recent loss.
At the end of the day, we were overwhelmed with the hospitality and sincerity of Ukrainian culture, being invited to a festive dinner, toasting to the glorious heroes – Героям Слава -, by Alexander. The guest of honour was Sviatoslav Yurash, youngest ever Member of Parliament in Ukraine and Sergeant of the 24th Assault Battalion “Aidar”, of which he generously presented us with official uniform badges.
The generators are used right now in hospitals and ambulances in Sumy, Kramatorsk, and the general Donetsk region, whilst our Volvo has been refitted into an evacuation vehicle in Sumy, ensuring safe transport and care of injured soldiers and civilians.
