New Year in Kharkiv

Hell's Kitchen volunteers were treated to a New Year party on December 29. Ukrainian volunteers spent all afternoon cooking some amazing food, alongside a barbecue, an open fire and lovely decorations. Somewhere under all these people there is a swing!


On New Year's Eve I watched some of the huge firework displays from countries across the globe, as they celebrated the new year. In Ukraine we have martial law, which mandates curfews in cities at varying times, depending on the local situation. Fireworks are banned and offenders are prosecuted. In Kharkiv the curfew begins at 11 pm - the only way we could think of celebrating was to light sparklers in the garden. My friend, Jos, took a short video, which turned out to be quite poignant as an air raid alert sounded less than a minute after midnight that can be heard in the background...




Hell's Kitchen is open every day of the year. As well as the Ukrainian volunteers, there is a hard-working group of volunteers, willing to come to Kharkiv for their Christmas holidays and even do a bit extra to keep the kitchen clean, once the job of making rolls is over.


Sometimes we like to add a little something to the rolls...



Thank you to people who continue to read this blog, nearly 3 years after the full invasion, and to those who make donations, some of them unknown to me. As always, a special thanks to Trawden village, which continues to have a collection box for Ukraine in the community shop and volunteers who make craft items to sell in support of Ukraine. 

There are many needs to consider when donations come in. Recently, some have gone towards self-healing foot and hand pads to soldiers on our nearby frontline, to prevent frost bite. It's pretty cold here at the moment. Some funds have been sent to a local enterprise that makes camouflage nets. A proportion of all donations goes to helping internally displaced children with special needs in Kharkiv. The charity, Adults For Children, has posted a special thanks to supporters in the UK.
See:


At present, we are raising funds for 5 tablets that are urgently needed in Kharkiv region, for artillerymen for battle management programmes. Please contribute if you can, remembering that a small amount - the cost of a round of drinks in England! - can make a big difference here.

The future in Ukraine seems as uncertain as ever, but the resilience of Ukraine and the bravery and audacity of its armed forces, vastly outnumbered by Russia, continued yesterday (Sunday), with the new offensive in the Kursk region of western Russia.

Today, January 6, is a traditional Ukrainian Christmas celebration - of the baptism of Jesus - known in Ukraine as Vodokhreshche, according to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Catholic Church. Whilst distant explosions can be heard in Kharkiv region, people continue to have fun in Schevchenko Park, which is even more beautiful in the snow.


To make a donation, please:

Open PayPal and, when asked for email, enter sunflower_house@hotmail.co.uk

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2025 at 7:24 AM

    Lovely blog as usual, I can't believe how long its been, let's hope 2025 sees the end of all the wasted bloodshed .

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fiona4UkraineJanuary 12, 2025 at 11:31 AM

    Yes, let's hope.

    ReplyDelete

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