June 2023 Update
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June 28-June 30
Wapowce (Poland)-Kiev- Kremenchug-Wapowce (Poland)
Distance: 1998 km
We continue to face challenges with our ambulance. On our way we had to make a stop in Kiev for repairs. The following day, we arrived in Kremenchug and stop for the night. In the morning, we went to pick up our client—a 77-year-old woman who was temporarily housed in a rehab center for addicts. She was unable to walk and extremely frail. The center was located in a small village outside the city, where the roads were in absolute terrible condition. She secured to the stretcher with belts. Despite driving at a very slow speed, she mentioned feeling as though she might fly off at times.
We transported her to a long-term care facility in Poland, operated by Caritas. Approximately one hour away from our destination, the ambulance once again went into limp (safe) mode, and our attempts to reset it were unsuccessful. Therefore, on Monday, we will need to take it back to the mechanic for further repairs.
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June 27
In May, we successfully shipped three Stryker bone reconstruction sets to Ukraine. Yesterday, I received an "assets transfer letter" confirming that all three sets have been delivered to the hospitals in Ukraine and are being put to good use.
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June 26
We're on a streak. This is already the third mission since we arrived, and it's filled with adventures. Nika, barely out of repair, went into emergency mode during the last mission, which means it was running, but slowly and sadly. This time, we drove her in a Mercedes dealership; they did something to it, but they told us we need to test it for some time. That meant not going far. Well... by our standards, at least.
We transported a family to Poland: a husband, wife, two girls, and a dog. The wife is unwell, and that's why they needed us. They're from Donetsk, and all their belongings are packed in two plastic bags, as shown in the photo. One of the bags contains the dog's things. Back in 2014, they already left the Russian world, and now they're doing it again.
Along the way, they made long stops to arrange documents for the dog. It has become much more complicated now. They were confident they had everything in order. At the border, the Polish officials turned us back. They thought we were missing some paperwork. They thought wrong; but what can we do? They suggested leaving the dog behind. The family simply didn't understand the offer; they have a different frame of reference.
That's when the Ukrainian border guards helped us greatly. I've heard a lot of negative things about them, but I've only seen good from them. They did everything they could and even a little more. They guided us where we needed to go, found a veterinarian... As a result, we didn't wait long. Well, not long? The air conditioning in Nika's treatment compartment is waiting for parts to be repaired and isn't working. The engine is already overheating, and the ventilation is struggling. It's over 30 degrees Celsius outside. The woman is seriously unwell. Sasha, swearing, breaks ice packs and starts glancing at the resuscitation kit. Somewhere, coordinators are sexually harassing the Polish consul in Kyiv through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hoping he will offend the Polish border service. But that's far away. Meanwhile, we've been standing on the neutral land for two hours. I'm already thinking, which country's ambulance will come to assist us? Nerves are burning like fuel in a stove. Just another day at work.
Along the way, we find out that they can't go to Norway, where they originally wanted to go. There's a quarantine for dogs there. We need to quickly find another country. Denmark or the Netherlands? Flip a coin.
Eventually, everything is resolved to the greater glory of the Lord because He loves us. But we're tired. Was the dog worth it? Everyone answers that question in their own way. Some tape their mouths shut, leave the dog on the staircase and drive away in their BMW, far away from the war. And others find, treat, and feed them on their meager pension. When the war gets too close, they go through piles of paperwork and drive them across half of Europe. And we're here for them.
Alexander Zharov
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June 25
On Saturday, 6/24/23, we embarked on a relatively short run of approximately 550 km with two specific goals in mind:
1. Our first objective was to transport Eugene, a remarkable individual who has been living with a disability since birth and endured the occupation of Kherson. Despite the challenges he has faced, Eugene maintains a positive outlook on life. He is traveling to Norway to receive much-needed treatment. We picked him up and set out towards the border. However, we encountered an unexpected obstacle when we discovered that the bridge on the designated highway had been destroyed by the Russians. Detour signs had not yet been put in place. Undeterred, we navigated our way using maps and continued on our journey. Once we veered off the main road, the driving conditions became extremely challenging. Calling it a "road" would be a sarcastic understatement. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in Ukraine, which necessitates frequent suspension repairs on our vehicles. The difficult terrain significantly slowed us down, and we arrived at our destination nearly three hours behind schedule. Despite the delays and arduous driving conditions, we consider this part of the mission a success.
2. Our second objective was to test our recently repaired ambulance on the road and ensure its readiness for long missions. Unfortunately, this part of the mission did not go as planned. After approximately an hour on the road, the "check engine" light illuminated, and we encountered issues with engine power and transmission shifting. As a result, we will need to return the ambulance to a different mechanic tomorrow for further repairs. In the meantime, we will carry out the mission using our other vehicle, Juna.
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June 23
Today we picked up the ambulance from repairs. It was supposed to be ready five days ago, but it turned out to be much worse than we expected.
The repairs on both vehicles were extensive and very serious. In total, we paid $4,337.12 (16,900 PLN).
I feel very sad...
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June 22
Eva, these are our friends, they are nice!
Friends, meet Eva and her mother. Eva is eight weeks old and she is wonderful. Especially because she patiently endured a thousand-kilometer journey. Eva is from Kupyansk, and things are not good there right now. That's why it fell to us to take her to a calmer place, far away from all this beastliness.
When Eva grows up, maybe she will become an artist and paint a small, fast bus. Or maybe a little and fast monkey.
But she definitely won't become a soldier. That won't be necessary anymore.
We are driving fast but not in a hurry.
And yesterday, another girl, the daughter of the hotel owner where we stayed (they have five rooms, the wife cleans them, and the husband cooks for the guests), who is already five years old, made a protective charm for us. She handed it over through her dad, she was a bit shy.
So, God loves us, and we have a protective charm.
We will be victorious!
Alexander Zharov
UPD: Eva has arrived. Everything is fine.
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June 21
We are in Ukraine, going for our first mission after the vacation.
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June 20
Yesterday, after an exhausting journey of 26 hours involving three flights and three hours of driving, we finally arrived at our base. Our first order of business was to retrieve Juna, our passenger van, only to discover that the Nika ambulance is still not ready. Unfortunately, our mechanics informed us that it will not be ready until Friday.
However, despite this setback, we already have a scheduled run that cannot be postponed. Therefore, tomorrow at 5:30, we will be embarking on our journey to Ukraine as planned. Upon our return, we will make arrangements to pick up the Nika ambulance.
We appreciate your understanding and support during this time. Despite the challenges, we are committed to fulfilling our mission and providing the necessary assistance to those in need.
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June 7
I spent most of yesterday on the phone with several NGOs in Ukraine, discussing the aftermath of the Russian attack on the Kakhovka dam. The situation has resulted in a severe humanitarian and ecological crisis, and we were actively planning and coordinating our response.
Initially, Alexander Zharov and I thought about changing our tickets and flying there immediately. However, due to our vehicles currently undergoing extensive repairs, we won't be able to leave for at least ten more days. Therefore, we have to remain where we are for now. Nonetheless, we will use this time to carefully plan our work so that we can swiftly respond upon our return.
We kindly request your support through donations. The war shows no signs of ending soon, and we need funds to sustain our operations. Your contributions will greatly help us in continuing our crucial work.
Alexander Smirnov
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June 6
Last week, our team was honored to receive two more awards. We are immensely proud of the work we are doing, and we are grateful for your continued support. With your backing, we are determined to persevere in our mission until we achieve victory!
