November 2023 Update
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November 30
Here it is, my friends.
The equipment has been handed over, and the base is closed. I'm in Krakow waiting for the plane.
Project Monkey Jump is interrupting its operations in Ukraine.
Our first mission took place on March 13, 2022, and for almost two years, we evacuated hundreds and hundreds of people. Children, elderly, disabled. Those who needed help most urgently. The vulnerable.
We never counted them. Because you should count those whom you couldn't save.
We did this because "He who wishes but does not act breeds plague." - Because we are Americans. And also, Ukrainians, Estonians, Italians. And we are proud of that.
We had 19 people involved in the project operations. Some completed just one mission, others worked for many months. I'm grateful to all and proud of our teamwork.
Guys, girls - it was a great hunt. Pedal to the metal, God loves us!
We are closing as one of the last similar teams in Ukraine. We lasted a long time. Thanks to those who donated money for us all this time. Money turned into missions; missions changed destinies. For the better.
Friends, I'm thankful for every dollar you donated. It was our joint effort.
We are leaving Ukraine. But this war will last for a long time. Help is needed here.
I'll take a short break and think. Then I'll start acting. Doing everything to bring us back.
So, stay tuned for updates.
And - goodbye.
Alexander Zharov
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November 27
Today was the last mission of the project at this stage, I hope. And it was executed impressively.
Five children, their mother, and grandmother. Documentation was a nightmare. From Donetsk.
They couldn't be transported due to documentation issues, exceeding the passenger limit by 3 people, and a lack of funding for their trip. I managed to take them out. But how I managed to squeeze this daycare onto the seats! And I drove very slowly.
They are now making their way to Germany.
Today, I said goodbye to Svetlana and Anya, volunteers and friends. They gave me a great gift, which I'll talk about next time.
For now, there's a lot of work to wrap up/conservation the project.
Alexander Zharov
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November 26
We are officially on stand-by for deployment to Israel. We anticipate receiving the go-no-go decision within the next three to five days.
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November 25
Today I sent Angelo home to Italy.
We worked wonderfully together these two weeks! He has a tremendous amount of experience and applies it with enthusiasm. He has worked in Africa and the Middle East, from which he has bullet and knife scars, incredible optimism, and a clear sense of right and wrong - the latter being extremely important.
God willing, our paths will cross again, and I'll be happy about that.
Alexander Zharov
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November 24
Today - from Zaporizhzhia.
A son with his father, the father has oncology, morphine, and flawed documents.
We evacuated them even with such documents, of course. There is a chance, and it needs to be realized.
But why does it sometimes feel like weaving at the border!
Upon arrival, Angelo meticulously checked the man, everything is stable, and now they are paving the way for them further to Norway at the shelter.
And on the way, I sang a song:
"Every raid I take
Every right I fake
Every rule I break.
God will watch at me."
If I don't manage to get out on Monday, this will be my last mission here.
Alexander Zharov
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November 23
**Important Announcement for Our Medical Volunteers**
GDRT is currently exploring the possibility of deployment to Israel from December 2023 to January 2024.
If you are interested in joining this deployment, kindly send your resume to deployments@gdrt.org. Additionally, include the following details in your email:
1. Your licenses and certifications.
2. Emergency Room (ER)/field experience.
3. Available dates for deployment.
4. Languages spoken.
If you were part of our team in Poland/Ukraine, please note that you are still required to submit your current resume.
At present, we are exclusively seeking medical personnel (including Doctors, Registered Nurses, and Paramedics).
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Today we evacuated a grandmother from near Bakhmut and a mother with twin boys from Kherson.
The boys clearly show signs of PTSD shock and will need help.
The grandmother's village has been turned into a lunar landscape, and on top of the ailments, there are issues with flawed documents...
For all of this, Nika and I are here. Everything on our end is in order; everyone is already in the shelter.
Ideally, for my tasks here, I would need to deploy five ambulances. That would be six vehicles with crews, our own repair base, a dispatcher, and a coordinator. A budget of $700,000 per year, with the vehicles already purchased... But such funds are for the Red Cross, UNICEF, and other freeloaders and pests.
And here we are closing down(((
Alexander Zharov
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November 22
It's amazing who we were transporting today.
Little Sonya, along with her mom and brother, whom Dina Pilder and I evacuated from Nikolaev in June last year!
Today in Lviv, they sought help from volunteers, and coincidentally, we were there.
Back then, 15 months ago, the city was incessantly bombed, and they decided to leave. When the front line shifted, they returned, of course. However, they found nowhere to return to, so they are heading to Germany. Nevertheless, they are confident it's temporary. They intend to continue living in Ukraine.
Sonya has grown, just as charming as before. She remembered us and instantly became friends with Angelo, not wanting to part with him when we said goodbye.
What a small and fragile world it is! Photos—15 months apart.
Alexander Zharov
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November 20
I slept after our seventeen hours behind the wheel yesterday, but my head is still groggy, and nothing new is coming to mind.
Driving from night to night, to Kramatorsk—it's not new. Night shelling in the city—not new either. Some of the patients decided not to go, leaving only one man without a leg and with problems—everything as usual. The road back, 1400 kilometers with the siren on, issues with the tired Nika—it's all routine.
And finally, a smooth border crossing and a standard completion of the mission—all as it should be. Everything as always. Just a little longer.
And the first snow, there was a lot of it. It pursued us the whole way, stopping and starting again and again. It slowed us down a bit.
Alexander Zharov.
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November 17
I conducted a First Aid class for the staff at the Foundation Hope shelter. Given that we've brought in numerous refugees over time, many of whom had health concerns, the shelter's manager requested me to train their staff. I willingly obliged and provided the training.
Alexander Smirnov
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And the work continues. And yesterday was not the easiest day.
A woman was evacuating from Zaporizhzhia when the bombings were constant there. She ended up in Lviv and, upon hearing the air raid siren, out of habit, she ran for shelter. She fell, fracturing her spine. Fortunately, the prognosis is good, but she needs to go to Germany.
Her husband is also disabled, with eye injuries.
We found their shelter on the fourth attempt, a new one not listed on maps. But we loaded them up and hit the road. Driving through Lviv during rush hour—only under a siren. Epic but exhausting. We reached the border.
But they said they couldn't let her through.
Some debts, long since repaid but still lingering in the database. Even I already know that a passport blocked from exiting leaves no options...
But Ukrainian border guards, directing us to a holding area, called Kyiv, argued with the night duty officer, told them about our Nikа... and secured permission for the woman to exit. Should we buy them a cake?
We learned about this a bit later from them. Because while all this was happening, we were trying to stabilize the patient whose blood pressure had dropped drastically. Nerves from dealing with documents and the effect of strong painkillers she was on. Angelo, a seasoned professional, barely glanced at her and informed me. But all medications are dispensed as per necessity and doctor's prescription. In this situation, we didn't want to administer medicine and managed with home remedies: slowly giving water with sugar and a kind word.
Okay, stabilized, taking a break, waiting. We see a border guard running towards us. Running!
And then I realize this it. We are in Deep Shit!
He runs up and asks, "Didn't you lose your sunglasses here three days ago? They're here with us, and we've drawn up a report, so please take them!" That's when we... were slightly surprised. Neither in Italy nor in the States does customs work like this. Should we buy them a cake?
Then the female border guards approached with documents, permissions, and stories of the work they've done.
Overall, God loves us, and our patients too. They are already in the shelter, preparing to go further, to Germany. And we are planning the next mission.
Alexander Zharov
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November 15
Hello, Friends!
This is going to be our last fundraiser for quite a time.
I have a very sad news. In two weeks (December,1st, 2023) Global Disaster Relief Team (GDRT) will freeze on-the-ground operations in Ukraine due to the luck of funding.
For the past twenty one month we were constantly working. We evacuated a lot off refugees, provided medical help and treatment to countless number of people, trained medical personal and first responders. Most of the NGOs who started with us in March 2022 seized there operation long time ago but, due to your constant support we continued our mission.
However, this is not the end. We are only suspending our on-the-ground operation. We will continue shipping of the medical supplies. In a fact, up to now we shipped different medical supplies for the total amount of $1,600,000. That is why we are asking you for donations again.
Thank you for your ongoing support!!!
Alexander Smirnov
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November 14
Busy day today.
It started at 5 am in the city of Nehzin which is in the Dumy region which was hit in the last hours by Russian bombings.
After a short sleep (the colleague and friend Alexander Zharov struggled to sleep, he heard the explosions of the bombing that happened last night, but I slept like a carpenter), quick coffee and departure to the inland.
Around 6.30 hours I arrived at the patient’s home, checked parameters and finding a stroke, so we’re heading full speed towards the rendezvous with the medic and friend Alex Smirnov , in-depth visit and transfer to a suitable facility in Poland.
After 840 km of driving in adverse conditions and numerous checkpoints I arrived at the destination.
Handed over the patient to the prepared staff we headed "home", despite the fatigue I decide to cook a carbonara for my friends (recipe from uncle Giuli Molinari ) and the result can be seen on their faces.
Tired but happy, proud of the work done.
A little drop in the sea? Yeah! But this drop has made a family’s life better, for us it’s enough.
Why do we do this? We help those who would otherwise have no other chance because too poor, the poor are the last, we are the first to try to help them.
Rest day tomorrow, the day after tomorrow it will be what it will be.
Where others flee, we run.
Many ask me why do you do this? they are not your people.
I answer: whoever suffers is my people.
Angelo Alessio Delfini
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Delivery on 11-6 and 11-10
On October 25, my colleague-volunteer Migdalia Tracy organized a donation for us - almost 400 cooler bags with extra cooling elements. We prepared all the necessary documents, confirmed the required quantity with our partners in Ukraine, and on November 3, I picked up this entire batch - a full trunk of Chevy Suburban. Thanks to Dmitriy V Tsitlenko for the timely repair of the truck; thanks to him, we stayed on schedule.
On November 6, the first part was sent - 100 coolers also with orthopedic materials and hospital care supplies to Odessa and then to Kherson. On the same day, two more boxes were sent - diabetic supplies to Kharkiv and wound dressing materials to Lviv for field medics. Total shipment weight: 371 lbs, $1102.29
On November 10, the second batch was sent to Lviv, consisting of 216 coolers and 100 cooling elements. Weight: 331 lbs, $827.99
Yulia Orlova
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November 13
It's time for me to begin my journey back home.
Alexander Smirnov
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At night, my comrade, another one from TESCO, Italian paramedic Angelo, arrived. He has traveled around half the world with humanitarian missions, and for the next two weeks, he will be on the road with me. Currently, he is checking up the equipment, we are preparing Nika, and tomorrow - we hit the road. Photos with a gap of one and a half years, quite interesting.
Alexander Zharov
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November 12
Introducing our "chariot" – an aged, well-worn Humvee. While it may not offer the most comfortable interior space for work, it boasts a significant advantage. This resilient vehicle has the remarkable capability to traverse the notoriously challenging and knee-deep muddy roads of Ukraine without getting stuck. A crucial asset for navigating difficult terrains in our mission.
Alexander Smirnov
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November 10
Our “base point” is strategically located in the basement of a completely destroyed building, well-hidden amidst the wreckage. It's a relatively secure space, considering the entire nine-floor structure now rests on top of it. Breaking through so much concrete would require at least a bunker buster.
Here's a snapshot of our "luxury accommodation." The ceiling height is approximately five feet, and while we have some company in the form of mice and rats, they seem to be rather considerate, keeping their distance from our sleeping quarters.
The picture is foggy due to the dust in the air.
In the video, you can observe the state of the neighboring block, a visual testament to the impact caused by the actions of the "RuZZian Liberators."
Alexander Smirnov
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Доброго дня. Від медичного центру Мудрий Лікар, дуже дякую за допомогу. Вчора отримали від вас для УЗД діагностики розхідники та гель. Дякуємо !!
Olga Marukhno
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The day was busy - I had to repair and transport five people. Regarding repairs, after dealing with the brakes, I moved on to oil, filters, everything that was supposed to last for another couple of thousand kilometers. But, of course, not in such an intense mode. Next up are the shock absorbers, which are not even a year old.
Then there were two families: a mother with a boy, and elderly spouses with a grandmother. For the grandmother, a stretcher was requires. She's generally lively, remembers the Second World War well, but it's better for her to lie down than sit. Age.
They are from Nikopol. They endured rockets and artillery but had to leave when the bombing from drones started. The place where there used to be a reservoir, and a house stood on the shore, is not a good place now. The house also suffered. They decided to leave.
As for Nika (my vehicle) and me, everything is standard, and everyone is already in the RFU shelter.
Everything will be fine.
Alexander Zharov
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November 8
Despite the ongoing strike near the border, today I brought two elderly ladies from Zaporizhia to Przemysl. Both have back problems, but one is worse off. Everything went smoothly according to the routine, which I'm satisfied with. Tomorrow, I'll have to combine the evacuation with servicing because Nika, my vehicle, complained about the brake pads, and you should always pay attention to that.
Alexander Zharov
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November 7
Distribution in Ukraine/ part 2. Stabilization points and frontline medics got a lot surgical sutures, gauzes and bandages, special dressings, emergency, IV, tracheostomy and trauma supplies
Thanks to all our doctors, donors and volunteers!
Yulia Orlova
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November 6
Yesterday night I returned from a mission on the border with Pridnestrovie. We evacuated a family of five spanning three generations: grandparents, a daughter, and two granddaughters. The father handed them over to us and returned to the war. The grandfather is not mobile at all; he's in poor condition. But with the help of the Lord and a medical monitor, we managed to transport everyone smoothly. In the photos, they are already in the shelter, looking content, with a friendly volunteer.
The weather was against us the entire way, with heavy rain and gusty winds. These conditions are especially challenging for our vehicle, Nicky, at high speeds. Thankfully, the storm peaked during the hours we slept.
During this mission, Richard earned the patch with a monkey, an English volunteer from 'HOPE,' with whom I've cooperated extensively. It was a pleasure working with him.
Alexander Zharov
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November 3
Distribution in Ukraine/ part 1.
Our friends from Odessa have kindly shared pictures to keep us updated on recent developments. Our shipments on September have reached their intended destination, Children's and maternity hospital in Kherson.
Thanks to all our doctors, donors and volunteers!
Yulia Orlova
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It's time to prepare my equipment. Tomorrow morning, I'll be heading to the Kramatorsk region. There's a significant possibility that I won't have internet access for a while. I'll make every effort to share updates when and if I have a connection. Stay tuned.
Alexander Smirnov
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November 2
We refer to it as "The Wall of Shame."
This wall prominently showcases tourniquets from various manufacturers that are known to be ineffective and, in a real-life situation, will get you killed. Our students are strongly encouraged to study this display and commit to memory what should never be used.
Alexander Smirnov
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November 1
A woman from Zaporizhia with high blood pressure. "After the second shelling, my daughter and I decided to replace the windows with plywood." Everything went smoothly, but about the photos... Today is a selfie day.
Alexander Zharov