war story
Kharkiv, Ukraine - Apr 1, 2025
LIFE-SAVING MOVEMENT
LIFE-SAVING MOVEMENT
aiForeigners often ask us, Ukrainians: “Is it possible to count the number of people who are volunteering in Ukraine now? Are there hundreds of people, thousands, tens of thousands?”
aiIt is difficult to answer. This unjust, cruel war has struck like a black cloud over the lives of every Ukrainian. Almost every family has someone they love who has taken up arms to defend our homeland — a relative, friend or colleague. And people naturally try to help their loved ones, purchasing everything from equipment, warm clothes, evacuation vehicles, and medicine to goodies. So are these people volunteers?
aiAnd the children who draw pictures for fighters at the front: sun, flowers, butterflies... or tanks... are they also volunteers? After all, they are sending warmth and wishes for a peaceful life to people they know and don't know.
aiAnd students all over the country who go to donor stations to give blood, are they also volunteers? After all, their blood will save someone's life.
aiRetired people who contribute half of their already small pensions to buy radios for the front, electronic warfare equipment to fight drones... ought to be called volunteers too.
aiIt is incredible how many kilometers of camouflage netting that skilful Ukrainians have made for the military. People of many backgrounds, little girls, and women 70+ are continuing to weave the nets — often from donated curtains, bed sheets, blankets... in different colors for each season and terrain.
aiAnimal volunteers rescue homeless pets from towns and villages along the front line, and kind-hearted residents bring these poor animals into their families in safer places. I think they should also be called volunteers, benefactors.
aiIt is difficult to find any person in my inner circle who does not contribute to our Ukrainian volunteer movement.
“If Russia stops shooting, there will be peace, if Ukraine stops shooting, there will be no Ukraine”
aiAt Brave Action Ukraine, we honor authors who, in addition to publishing on braveaction.org and volunteering in many other ways, have joined the defense of Ukraine. This is their next path.
aiTo quote one from Kharkiv: “Everyone has their own way: for me from childhood to the full-scale invasion, from a pigeon with a broken wing to a bomb shelter with more than 600 people under my care, including 78 children” “...from volunteering to defending the Motherland." Here is his profile on our site: braveaction.org/profiles/pavlo-kushtym.
aiTwo people from the human rights organization KhPG, with whom we are working, are in the military as well. Here is one of their articles: braveaction.org/moments-of-truth/interrogated-by-the-russians-that-game-was-over.
aiAnd, our project manager has also recently joined the Armed Forces. Here is a heartfelt piece by him: braveaction.org/stories/shine-even-in-the-most-difficult-circumstances.
aiAccording to recent polls, a majority of Ukrainians continue to financially support the Armed Forces of Ukraine even in the fourth year of the war.
ai— 66% of citizens donated money to the army as of December 2023, 46% doing so regularly with each salary.
ai— 63% of Ukrainians continued to donate to the Armed Forces in 2024, 44% of them doing so regularly with each salary.
ai— 92% of respondents of a “Deloitte” study held in Ukraine reported that they had donated to help the army or victims of military operations, and 33% did so on a regular basis.
aiSome charitable organizations, however, have noted a decrease in contributions compared to previous years which may be due to the economic difficulties of Ukrainians.
aiIt is not possible to determine the exact number of people from other countries helping inside Ukraine due to lack of complete data. It is known though that there are more than 1,500 registered organizations in Ukraine that engage foreign volunteers. Every week the National Social Service receives new applications for such cooperation which indicates a growing number from around the world who are participating in our humanitarian and reconstruction projects. We are very grateful to all those who care. We are stronger together!
aiI hope that Ukraine's volunteer movement will keep strong in our struggle of light against darkness, because “If Russia stops shooting, there will be peace, if Ukraine stops shooting, there will be no Ukraine.”
The first days of the invasion. February 2022. Kharkiv subway
The first days of the invasion. February 2022. Residents of the city of Kropyvnytskyi help with food and shelter for displaced persons from the East of Ukraine and the military
Children's drawings for the military
Children's drawings for the military
Zoo volunteers rescue pets near the front line
Ukrainian women knit warm clothes for the military and vulnerable people
These guys, who volunteered from the first days of the invasion, are now both in the Armed Forces
Help in the first days of the invasion. “Shine even in the most difficult circumstances”
The first days of the invasion. February 2022. Kharkiv subway
The first days of the invasion. February 2022. Residents of the city of Kropyvnytskyi help with food and shelter for displaced persons from the East of Ukraine and the military
Children's drawings for the military
