One such organization is UAid Direct, which began its operations in Kherson in June 2022. Since then, the volunteers have made over 50 deliveries to the city, each carrying 2-3 euro pallets of humanitarian aid.
The Kherson region has become a key area for UAid Direct’s work.
“When we started helping Ukraine, initially with small batches of humanitarian aid, we felt that what was happening in Kherson affected us all deeply. We sought out those who were supporting the city, which was then occupied, and discovered that there were very few suppliers and delivery routes for aid. In a way, it was almost a forgotten region. And to be honest, sometimes it still feels that way,” shares Konrad, one of the organization’s founders.
However, humanitarian aid is just one part of their work. The organization is also involved in supporting Kherson’s critical infrastructure. They have helped repair a bomb shelter in one of the region’s medical facilities.
Volunteers are supporting the Kherson Maternity Hospital—the only operating medical facility currently operating in the region. Recently, they delivered incubators for premature infants. Additionally, the volunteers regularly supply medical equipment to other hospitals on the region’s right bank.
UAid Direct also provides communities in the Kherson region with creative and therapeutic supplies to help people momentarily escape the harsh realities of war.
“Recently, there has been a significant increase in demand for this. It’s important to bring people at least some positive emotions, even if it’s just a piece of chocolate or a cookie,” Konrad notes.
The lists of items needed for humanitarian aid are compiled by Father Ihor Makar, a Greek Catholic priest with whom the organization has collaborated since it began working in the Kherson region, and volunteer Ihor Tsurkan. In addition, the organization receives direct requests from hospitals.
While carrying out their work, the volunteers face a range of challenges. “Since the city is closed to foreign visitors, we need permission from local authorities to enter. While in Kherson, we must constantly coordinate our actions with the authorities and adhere to strict safety measures,” says Konrad, who is one of UAid Direct’s founders.
Some areas in Kherson, particularly those near the Dnipro River, are dangerous and off-limits due to the risk of shelling from the Russian army. The city is under constant threat from enemy drones. They target not only military facilities but also civilians, including children, the elderly, and volunteers.
“When we bring cargo to Kherson, we often have only a few minutes to unload the vans. There was one incident in August when we delivered a large amount of medical equipment to the maternity hospital, and the next day, the spot where our van had been parked was completely destroyed by an enemy missile,” recalls one of UAid Direct’s founders.
The volunteers tell us that Kherson is one of the toughest places to work in Ukraine right now. And as a team, UAid Direct has been everywhere from Kharkiv to Odesa.”
In the near future, the organization plans to work on regularly restocking medical facilities.
“Our priority is to supply surgical materials, bandages, medical gowns, and other essential items needed in operating rooms and for wound care in Kherson hospitals,” says Konrad. “We also aim to support safe spaces for women and children with materials that allow them to rest, relax, and connect: any kind of art supplies, crafts, toys, puzzles, and other items.”
