Return to Ukraine


I write this as I return on the Przemyśl to Kharkiv train, after a 3-week break in England and Iceland (where the title photo was taken). I was away for the 4 year commemoration of Russia's brutal, illegal invasion of Ukraine. It was almost 4 years ago that I began a journey that has really transformed me, from Krakow to Lviv to Odesa to Kharkiv (nearly 2 years ago).

This could be a very bleak post. The bombardment of Ukraine continues, against energy and transport infrastructure, and civilian homes. More than a million Ukrainians have been without electricity, heating and water during the coldest winter in years, with temperatures dropping to -20C and below outside, and to 5 or 6°C inside apartments. This cynical bombing campaign is sometimes described as the kholodomor (death by cold).
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/24/four-years-ukraine-invasion-russia-gains-small-ukraine-remains-resilient?CMP=share_btn_url

A person walks down a street in central Kharkiv during a blackout, January 27, 2026. Public (Sispilne) Kharkiv

Western allies are failing to manufacture enough air defence missiles. A statistical analysis from the Institute for Science and International Security shows that the proportion of armed Shahed drones hitting targets increased from 6% last January to 30% in May, and remained at 29% in December.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/24/four-years-ukraine-invasion-russia-gains-small-ukraine-remains-resilient?CMP=share_btn_url

But still Ukrainians remain resilient and find ways to cope with adversity. There is a strong desire for peace but not at any cost, for example giving up land where people live and for which thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives.

Many people in the free world demonstrated their support for1 Ukraine on this fourth anniversary of the full invasion, from Reykyavik (title photo) to Amsterdam...

...Norway


and London.


When I visited my previous home village of Trawden, East Lancashire, I found the volunteers as commited as ever to supporting Ukraine, with donations collected from the community shop and craft fairs. One of the volunteers has sponsored and hosted 3 separate families (mother and child) and says she will do so again if needed.


Mary continues to knit tiny teddies every evening to raise money for Ukraine. She was really touched to receive a present from one of the Ukrainian volunteers in Hell's Kitchen.

Hell's Kitchen
Volunteers from every part of the globe continue to give up their holidays (and financial resources) to make the long journey from the Ukraine border to Kharkiv - up to 20 hours on the train and more by bus - to help in Hell's Kitchen and elsewhere.

Liuda, manager of Hell's Kitchen, recently addressed the following post to foreign volunteers:
"I am proud of EVERY single one of you! For four years now! Daily! Tirelessly! Without losing hope!!!! You come to Kharkiv again and again, joining the Kitchen...Your moral support, your hard physical labor, your donations, your faith, and the efforts you put in — they inspire us to never give up and to keep on fighting."

Peeling vegetables continues to be a regular source of humour!


Donations
Thank you for all donations.

26 Brigade received thermals from funds which we raised amongst former volunteers and others.

One of or volunteers has been working at a blacksmithing enterprise in Ukraine for the past couple of years, manufacturing the staples that hold a trench up. The blacksmith is self-funded and gives away all his staples, free, to the military.   


This video shows the work...
https://youtu.be/0wCZsK7yQU0?si=d0R93QdysIzD0xvB

As well as volunteers, sponsors are needed, anything from $1 to $100. 
https://linktr.ee/forgingukraine?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=a51c49f0-5759-478d-8a44-2ce547d5a960

Fellow volunteer, Jos, has raised 87% of his fundraising goal, to give a power station to Kharkiv Professional College of Sports, to power the lights, and charge laptops and mobile phones, for chldren and teachers during electricity outages.

"Welcome to Ukraine!" (in English) said the soldier who checked my documents on the train, after we crossed the border.

I can't wait to get back home to Kharkiv!

Thank you for reading this post and for your comments.

To make a donation to the regular causes I support, please open PayPal and, when asked for email, enter sunflower_house@hotmail.co.uk

You can specify where you would like your donation to go, including whether or not you wish to support a civilian only cause; otherwise I will send the money where I think the need is greatest:

Adults For Children, Kharkiv, supports children's physical and emotional well being, including those who have been displaced.

Hell's Kitchen cooks daily, nutritious meals and bakes bread, for hospitals, wounded soldiers and others in need.

Franklin, Hell's Kitchen foreign volunteer coordinator, supports soldiers and medics on the frontline.

Inna runs a small group of volunteers who make camouflage nets, ghillie suits and stretchers.

If you would like to donate to a charity that supports animals, there is Animal Rescue Kharkiv.

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