Did you pack your suitcase on the morning of 24 February 2022?
The suitcase was packed, but for a different occasion – my holiday was due to start on that day, and my fiancé and I had planned to embark on a trip. As we sensed tension in the atmosphere and information spaces for quite some time prior, we took our cat Josie to my fiancé’s parents in Zakarpattia a week before just in case of a large-scale war. However, we cancelled our planned trip to Boryspil on the night of 23-24 February. The following morning, we awoke to the sound of explosions and a call from my sister. As our bags had already been packed, we took them to the underground car park, where we remained for the first two days. On day three, we departed for Zakarpattia by train. It was a tough and troubling journey which lasted a day, but it was the correct choice for us since our feeling of safety and belonging was taken away.
When did you recognise the need for your support in the Defence Forces?
Right away, I gave funds to prominent charities and the Ukrainian Armed Forces directly.
Once I reached a reasonably secure location, my focus shifted to aiding civilians. Mainly, I connected those in search of housing with rental options or assisted in locating carriers for volunteer cargo.
In March 2022, my military relatives made their first request for me to acquire tactical gloves for their unit. Despite uncertainties about my ability to obtain the necessary funds or the public response, I made the effort. And I managed to meet the need, and that’s when it all began and continues until today.
How can you offer assistance and what actions do you take?
I personally gather funds to fulfill requests from military friends, family members, acquaintances, or acquaintances’ family members, that is, people I know.
The majority of the money is utilized to purchase thermal imagers, night vision devices, scopes, aerial reconnaissance tablets and optics, ammunition, and vehicle repairs. We have collected a total of over £19,000. Most of it happened in 2023, when my efforts picked up pace. I cannot recall a time when I was not involved in fundraising. Currently, I am supporting the cause to gather 200 thousand hryvnias for a car that could assist in evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
Of course, I use my own cash to back the stated collections. If there’s still some cash required, and it’s possible for me to chip in, and the target date has already passed, I will settle the remaining amount myself. Alternatively, I would purchase supplies like wax for trench candles without establishing an account.
I also get involved in other volunteers’ and known charities’ efforts. It’s developed into a volunteer culture – we assist each other with fundraising. If there is any money left over from one collection, I transfer it to another related collection. The army’s funds should be actively used rather than just sitting in my bank account awaiting a new collection. Timing is crucial, and it is especially frustrating for me to witness the military initiating collections themselves, and even more so when they do not follow up on them. I know the slow pace of collections is due to the lack of interest and inconsistency in reposting. However, I wish to speed up the closing of collections made by our defenders.
In the past, I collected humanitarian goods for military hospitals in the form of gently used T-shirts, new underwear and hygiene products when they asked for them. I gathered appropriate items from my home and also encouraged my friends and colleagues to take part in the collection. They also brought their own clothing, and a former colleague donated new T-shirts, socks, cups, and notepads from their company. Thanks to the generous people around me, we donated over 200 T-shirts without any external funding. Recently, my fiancé and I also sent a Starlink to the army that we purchased in the winter but haven’t used and don’t see the need for it.
What’s the quickest and lengthiest collection you’ve ever done?
The quickest way was to get a helmet for my relative who died in the war. It cost about £300, which I raised in half a day by telling friends and acquaintances on social media. The longest collection took more than a month, when I raised money for 17 tablets and memory cards for aerial reconnaissance. I couldn’t collect the money in time, and the new groups departed without the necessary equipment. However, I promptly organized another important collection for drones with the funds I had.
How does one feel when they can’t gather the necessary funds by a specific date?
It makes me feel sad, but I accept the reality. However, only after attempting everything possible, like spreading the word, expanding my audience and contacting my friends. Generally, I comprehend that this is regular because there are a multitude of charges and it imposes a significant financial strain on the individuals who assist me.
I do everything from opening accounts to communicating with people who make inquiries. I also prepare reports and make posts. My assistants are always willing to share the news, aid with hefty packages, or contribute funds whilst viewing a movie in the workplace. I am grateful to be surrounded by such individuals.
Are you an active person? Would you have envisaged yourself as a volunteer previously?
I do not regard myself as active, but I enjoy being part of the community. I have always opted for some unique societies, associations and played a lively role in them. For instance, there was an enjoyable scientific group at our faculty, whose name I cannot recall, comprising only a few members due to its particular activities. We met to read captivating articles or watch science videos, after which we discussed what we learned. We also arranged study sessions for first-year students addressing more challenging subjects. Personally, I enjoyed arranging Halloween gatherings in the halls of residence, where I delighted in playing ‘mafia’. If I really liked something, I found the energy to arrange it. Once I started working, my social life became less active, so I never imagined that I would volunteer.
What abilities and values have you acquired through volunteering?
Volunteering has instilled in me faith in people and society. I realised that things are not as bad in our country as I previously believed, in fact, everything is much better. I never thought someone would donate money to a stranger and place so much trust in them. I also got great feedback from those around me and a lot of thanks for arranging the meeting.
Will you quit?
I’ll keep collecting for as long as necessary. It’s draining in every way, but it’s insignificant compared to what our front-line defenders experience.
That’s why when someone requests a collection, it’s my top priority. It’s easy to write a simple text and select a photo of a cat. I can do this for those who work hard every day. If they can do their job, then I can do mine.
I haven’t had much time lately to reflect on my day or take a leisurely evening stroll. But would I make any changes? Probably not. If I wanted to make changes, I would do it myself.
What will you do first on the day when we win?
I always thought I would celebrate, feel happy and relieved. But now I have a new idea: I might take a deep breath and exhale because it’s painful. I realise how many people died, and how many families and lives were ruined by the war. My family and I lost relatives in this conflict. I was deeply affected by the news of my classmate’s death. So perhaps on the day we win, we will simply cry and reminisce. It will be a brief respite before we must set about reconstructing our society. We cannot let our guard down, ensuring that nobody assumes that everything remains as it was, and they can continue living as they did before. I wish for our esteemed war veterans to feel at ease, and for greater acknowledgement and awareness of those with disabilities and amputations within our society. “There will be a great deal of work to do, and as an adult and a member of Ukrainian society, I must contribute and carry out everything within my abilities.
Follow the link to Olga’s Instagram, where you can learn more about fund-raising, aid supplies for our soldiers and, perhaps, join this very important cause.
Translator: Ivan Chepaykin
