Russian aggression on the territory of Ukraine has changed the lives of all of us. What inspired you to start volunteering despite that?
When russia began a brutal war on the territory of Ukraine, no one could sit idle. Before the full-scale invasion, we knew that Ukraine was at war. Unfortunately, there were thoughts that “it’s happening far away and doesn`t affect me personally”. February 24, 2022, is the date when the war touched absolutely everyone, and I myself chose the path of volunteering to be of service to people, animals, and my country.
Is volunteering only about material assistance?
Many people claim that volunteers can only provide material assistance. While this is true, based on my own experience, I can say that sometimes people just need a simple conversation, support, words like “Peace will come soon” or “Ukraine will prevail in a little while.”
How long have you been involved in this work?
I started volunteering at the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion, which is about 2 years ago.
What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
A volunteer helps everyone, provides support, maintains connections with people, is active and energetic, but they are also individuals with their own emotions. Sometimes, it can be very difficult to control those emotions, but it’s necessary. If you think that a volunteer is an eternal mechanism, you are mistaken. We also sometimes need support. It’s precisely when you feel burned out and it seems like the finish line, you remember those grateful eyes, the smiles of people, and those children you can’t let down. Of course, there are challenges related to some things that are not always available for free, and sometimes you have to buy them with your own money.
Children in times of war are the most challenging subject. Have you had any stories related to children?
There was one story with a little boy from Izium. Volunteer Julia Cherednyk asked us to evacuate a bright young boy from a nursing home. It turned out that his father had recently died of cancer, and his mother was not there, as she had passed away earlier.
We managed to bring the orphaned boy with special needs to Kyiv. He was immediately examined by doctors at the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, and a miracle happened: in one of the rehabilitation centers, there were people willing to become Bogdan’s parents. They already had children with autism spectrum disorders. Now, Bogdan has a family.
Can anyone become a volunteer? What skills do you believe a volunteer should possess?
Anyone can become a volunteer, but not everyone is ready for it. The necessary skills should include a high level of internal motivation. You must understand that you are primarily helping because you want to; it’s about assistance without the expectation of receiving a new car or money in return, but gaining the most valuable thing — inner peace. You will live with the understanding that you did everything within your power.
Do you remember yourself before the war? Is there a certain trait or aspect of your life that you miss?
To be honest, before the full-scale invasion, it wasn’t entirely clear what I truly wanted in life. There was a general understanding of what I should do: raise my son, build a home, plant a tree, but true self-realization only happened recently. It’s now that my heart has found its calling.
The full-scale invasion occurred on February 24, 2022, but the war in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014. Please tell me, why do you think there wasn’t such widespread assistance in 2014?
In my opinion, this situation is one of the most shameful chapters in the history of Ukrainians. We didn’t come to our senses immediately; we just continued living our lives without any understanding that war is a parasite. Today it’s there, and tomorrow it’s in our house, which is essentially what happened.
It’s difficult to look at all the cities in Ukraine. Which one hurts you the most?
I believe many would mention Mariupol. Personally, I’ve never been there, but I have a good friend who is part of the “Azov” battalion and was stationed at Azovstal all the time. When he got captured, I was very concerned about whether everything would be okay, as the russians’ attitude towards Ukrainian soldiers is terrible. Later, there was an exchange, and he managed to return home, where he underwent rehabilitation. Currently, we maintain contact.
You are a specialist in assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine within the Charity Foundation “Mercy and Health.” What are your responsibilities?
Searching for aid for the military and hospitals. Organizing trips to the front-line zones, communicating with the military and doctors. Finding accommodation for volunteers.
What is the biggest dream of the nominee for the “Volunteer Award 2022”?
No one will help us if we don’t want to help our own country. My dream is for the entire Ukraine to be free, but for this, we must exert a lot of effort. Right now, I want everyone who starts the path of volunteering to be conscious because it’s a challenging journey with various emotions, unfortunately, sometimes with losses, but with unwavering resilience and eternal struggle that lives in every Ukrainian.
“For me, home is…”
Ukrainian freedom is the home for me. There is nothing more valuable than this, which is why we fight, because we can never live in Russian chains.
Translator: Bohdana-Nikolietta Terekhina
