May 2023 Update
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May 29
A few weeks ago, condoms disappeared in Kyiv, and it was a big problem for us because we use them for ultrasound diagnostics. During that period, my friend Asy Patrysheva called me and said, "Olya, write a list of what you need... we'll try to find everything quickly." They found them, sent them, and we received them. It turns out that in the States, they use something different for diagnostics than condoms! Everything worked out perfectly! I want to thank everyone who participated. I'm giving each of you a big hug. Special thanks from the Ceneter Director Valery Marukhno.
Olga Wallace (Volunteer, Ukraine)
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May 27
Eight more boxes with essential medical supplies on its way to Odesa.
Total weight: 304lbs
Cost of shipping: $855.20
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May 22
Nine more boxes of medical supplies on the way to Ukraine.
Total weight: 309 lbs.
Total cost of shipping: $907.77
Eugen Berezovskiy and the Ulik_Ukraine foundation have indeed received our packages - three of them so far, with two more on the way. This time, it's not equipment or medical supplies, but games and educational materials for various crafts. These incredible people distribute aid and organize game sessions and children's celebrations in Kharkiv and the surrounding areas (Kupyansk, Liman, etc.) for the children living there.
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May 18
Our cars, Nika and Junona, are undergoing extensive repairs while we go on vacation. The vehicles started falling apart all at once, unable to withstand the constant strain, and we are a bit tired too. Tired from the roads with their endless kilometers, tired from people and their pain... We need a breather. And in the States, there are accumulated bureaucratic matters waiting for us... But we will be back in June. How long for? Only God knows. It depends on money, on the condition of the vehicles. But we have enough motivation. In the photo is a display window of a candy store in Lviv, with a candy-like, New Year's city inside. A candy castle, trees, animals, and saints. And a train that moves. It's an absolutely magical place. Each of us dreamed of visiting such a city in our childhood, of course, without any witch from the "Gingerbread House," without hardships. Perhaps Lviv appears this way at the age of five. Or a random neo-Gothic house in Kyiv's Podil. I've seen something similar in Kharkiv too. The point is, we have enough motivation. And our little monkey will continue jumping ahead, following the advancing army.
Alexander Zharov
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May 17
Odesa got two of three April shipping. Part 1 - total 17 boxes of medical supplies. Huge thanks all our doctors and donors!
Another 8 are on the way, will be delivered soon.
Next shipping is in the process now. I hope to ship it asap.
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May 16
We hadn't planned to go to Lviv today, but last night we received an urgent call for help to transport a family to Poland. So, at five-thirty in the morning, we hit the road. We picked up a mother and her two children who had arrived early in the morning from Nikopol, a city under constant heavy bombardment. They were exhausted, and the mother was extremely worried about her parents who had chosen to stay behind.
Initially, our plan was to take them directly to the train station in Przemyśl. However, I asked the mother if she was sure they didn't want to rest before boarding the train. She expressed her desire to do so but explained that they had nowhere to stay. In that moment, we reached out to our friend Jay, who kindly offered them a place at his lovely shelter.
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May 15
Today, we had the honor of receiving a heartfelt letter of appreciation from "Israel for Ukraine." We are immensely proud and grateful for this recognition of our work. It serves as a powerful reminder of the impact we are making and fuels our determination to continue our efforts. Thank you for your support and encouragement!
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May 13 - May 14
Przemyśl (Poland) – Dnipro - Przemyśl (Poland)
Total distance: 2313 km
Total cost: $517.15 We successfully transported a 70-year-old female with a complex medical history. Due to her condition, she required a medic to accompany her during the ride. Fortunately, the journey went smoothly without any incidents. It took us a total of almost seventy hours on the road to bring her to the shelter in Poland. From there, she will be transferred to Finland for treatment and rehabilitation.
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May 10 -May 11
Total distance: 2128 km
Total cost: $436.15
Przemyśl (Poland) - Ochakiv - Przemyśl (Poland)
Elena needed to urgently travel to the Netherlands. The doctors demanded it, the diagnosis demanded it... and the route from Poland had already been planned, but... Elena lived in Ochakiv, which is a closed city and also a place of constant duels. Well, like the Wild West, you understand. Only these duels are artillery ones 🙂
Therefore, it is not comfortable for Western volunteers to go there, and the rules do not allow them to do so, and the locals are not ready to kill their vehicle's resources by driving across the country or crossing the border. That's where we come in.
A year ago, I was simply not allowed to go there, but now it's much easier. The talks about eternity at the checkpoint took 15 minutes, and then we jumped in and out. With Elena.
The city is tense, the windows are cover with plywood, the roofs are covered with plastic... The shells are flying in. That was the case when we had to put on all this armor-plates out of necessity. Well, there was no time to find a beautiful angle for a photo. 🙁
And Elena is in Poland now and will continue her journey today. Everything will be fine.
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May 5- May 7
Total distance: ~1200km
Total cost: ~$1300
Przemyśl (Poland) – Odesa – Lviv - Przemyśl (Poland)
This mission was an absolute logistical nightmare. It always seems to happen when many pieces need to be put together. Our patient was a fifty-seven-year-old male with diabetes, an amputated right leg above the knee, almost blind, and on dialysis. He needed to go to the Czech Republic but had to stop in Lviv for dialysis. We were supposed to pick him up in Odesa, bring him to Poland, and intercept with the Czech ambulance crew. However, the plans changed several times while we were already on our way to Odesa. In the end, we brought him to Lviv and placed him in a medical facility. We arranged for him to be picked up the next morning for dialysis, and the Czech crew would pick him up the following evening from Lviv.
On our way to Lviv, we received a call asking if we could pick up a mother with two kids from Lviv and bring them to Przemyśl. We were happy to help. The younger girl fell asleep immediately after we got them in the ambulance. At the border, the Ukrainian border patrol officer smiled at us and said, “Hello, boys! Happy to see you again!” Then she turned to our passengers and said, “I know them for a long time. You are in very good hands!”
This family came from Kherson. They lived through the occupation. The mother is a choreographer while her husband is a tanker in the Ukrainian Army. She did not want to leave, but her husband insisted, saying it would be much easier for him to fight if he knew his family was safe. They are planning to go back as soon as it will be safe in Kherson.
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May 5
For over a year, GDRT has partnered with several non-profit organizations worldwide to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Although we have been in contact with many volunteers, most of our interactions have been virtual. However, today we finally had the opportunity to meet Леся Доброскоченко-Оводовська in person. She is a representative of a local Ukrainian group responsible for the final distribution of the medical supplies we ship. Despite only having interacted over the internet before, meeting in person felt like reuniting with an old friend!
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May 5
Three shippings this week. Odessa, Lviv, Kyiv - medical supplies. Kharkov - games, toys, learning materials for work with children.
373 lbs, $1428.45. Thank you for your support and donations. We will keep going.
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May 4
Another routine day. Went to Ukraine at 5:30 in the morning, brought four people to Poland. Spent about five hours with several coordinators planning future missions. Suddenly a call came: “Alex, we have a kind of awkward situation on our hands. There is a Georgian fighter in Przemyśl. He needs to go back to Georgia. He speaks only Georgian. Could you pick him up, bring him to Jay and also figure out what his situation is?” – OK.
While I was on my way, I was put in contact with one of the coordinator's friends, a Georgian doctor who lives in Georgia. I found the fighter and then we had a call with the doctor and clarified the situation. He needs to go home because his brother is very sick, and he is not sure he will be able to get there while he is still alive. In a matter of minutes, the coordinators set up the trip for him. I hope he will get there in time.
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May 2
Today's raid was calm and peaceful. There's a family from Bachmut, the father has a tricky diagnosis but with a positive trend, stable. The kids are funny. Everyone is tired but keeping their spirits up. They already have a route planned to Norway... After their parents' house got hit, they started gathering and were already in Kyiv when their own house was destroyed. But they still have some belongings left. They plan to return and rebuild from scratch.
Alexander Zharov
