October 2023 Update
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October 31
I transported a family with three small children and a wounded German soldier. He was fortunate - four shrapnel wounds and one bullet wound, all not too severe and healing well. I revisited the knowledge I acquired in my youth to change his dressings, and he's doing better.
The father of the young children had just been demobilized when his wife told him she was pregnant with their fourth child. Although, as a father of many children, he didn't have to go to war at all. He could have chosen not to. He could have, but he couldn't...
Different people, different destinies...
Alexnder Zharov
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October 30
Today, I transported three people from near Avdiivka. One of them is post-stroke. They have just come from the hell. They are still struggling to grasp the idea that the war is over for them. We reached our destination safely, and from there, they will continue to Warsaw.
Alexander Zharov
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October 29
Shipment on October 27th.
10-18 We have got a huge amount of supplies from our doctors (Doctor Bronfine, you are kind angel!). It was sorted and packed for four days while I was staying in constant contact with local volunteers in Ukraine. First part already shipped 10-23.
Now second part was shipped 10-27.
7 boxes to Odessa (Kherson and region): special dressings for wound care, supplies for IV, tracheostomy, surgery, urology, regular hospital needs, medicines from our friends, Many thanks to all friends for sending medicines to us!
255 lbs, $735.55.
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October 27
Today, I transported Lisa with her sick grandmother. Everything went smoothly, and at the shelter, they are already arranging their journey to Germany.
So, Lisa is a thoughtful young girl, 14 years old. Her grandmother is an enthusiastic person, but after a scooter accident, she developed health issues. They are from the occupied territory. I could hear their story in bits and pieces as I drove them. Russian volunteers helped them to make their way to one of the semi-legal border crossings that appear and disappear due to negotiations on the ground. It was terrifying. Then they had to go on foot, and there was shooting. Some people who couldn't walk and were very ill were transported in wheelbarrows. Along the roadsides lay the things that had abandoned because people were too tired to carry them. They were afraid, all the time. They made it across. After that, they received help from the Ukrainian military, and then it was just a long road ahead. They only had a plastic bag of belongings.
Evil is a very concrete thing; it's not just a philosophical concept.
Alexander Zharov
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October 26
Another class graduated today, and I couldn't be prouder of them! None of these students had a previous medical background, and our course is known for its intensity, demanding significant effort. However, their performance on the practical exam today was nothing short of flawless. They demonstrated exceptional proficiency both individually and as a teams.
To my students, I say: Go out there and save lives!
Alexander Smirnov
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October 25
Practicing NPA (Nasopharyngeal Airway) insertion and learning the correct placement of decompression needles.
Alexander Smirnov
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October 24
Today, I transported two elderly ladies with their accompanying son. One of them can't walk at all, and the other one has severe mobility issues. This is one of those rare cases where everything goes smoothly for everyone, not just for me 😉. They were passed from volunteer to volunteer all the way from the far east, and I handed them over in Poland. The volunteer is from Chicago, as seen in the photo.
Before that, I was hand-repairing the heater drive in Nika. Before that, I was driving her without a working heater, with a hole instead of the heater motor, through which the cold air was blowing slightly. I did this for two days, feeling as fresh as a daisy for a day more than needed. Tomorrow, I'll try to recover. And then, back to the road again.
Alexander Zharov
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Shipment on October 23th.
10-18 We have got a huge amount of supplies from our doctors (Doctor Bronfine, you are kind angel!). It was sorted and packed for four days while I was staying in constant contact with local volunteers in Ukraine. First part was shipped yesterday.
6 boxes to Odessa (Kherson and region): gauzes and pads, medicines, supply for IV and surgery for frontline hospitals. Many thanks to all friends for sending medicines to us!
2 boxes to Lviv (and east places): IV and surgery supplies, gauzes.
Also I collected and send the box to Kharkiv for our volunteers, a lot of stuff for educational and entertainment work with kids.
310 lbs, $960.62.
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October 23
This man is from near Kharkiv. He has diabetes, angina, and a serious leg condition. He didn't leave his home until an explosion blew out the windows. Then he left in whatever he was wearing. I was worried about his blood pressure, that I might have to take him to 103 (UA ambulance) during the journey, but we managed. He's resting in the shelter now and will be going to Germany next.
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October 21
Today, once again, I transported mothers with their children. A girl from Kremenchug has cerebral palsy, and her mother is taking her for treatment. The mother and son from the Donbas region had almost nothing left, just two plastic bags of belongings. We had to transport the girl carefully but quickly. So, Nika and I drove slower than the sound but faster than a screech. We managed to transport everyone safely. I suppose when I return to the United States, I'll be a very law-abiding driver for some time.
Alexander Zharov
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October 20
Today, I transported a mother and daughter to the RFU shelter. Everything went smoothly and orderly. It was raining, and the roads in Lviv were quite congested, so I had to drive with the emergency lights on. The road was slippery.
Alexander Zharov
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October 18
Yesterday, my students had their finals, and everyone passed!
I didn't stay for the traditional graduation picture. I was feeling very unwell, and as soon as I finished grading, I went home.
People who work with us at TESCO might remember Sam. You'll be surprised to know that he was one of my students. He asked me to say hello to the team.
Alexander Smirnov
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The long-awaited repair, which was much feared, has been completed. It was risky, and if we weren't lucky, Nika could have been out of commission for a long time. However, even so, the engine had to be disassembled. With God's help, everything went well.
Thanks to the Lviv volunteers, the mechanics, and those who found them.
Alexander Zharov
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October 17
Today, two girls with their mother from the Odessa region arrived. Russians were targeting grain storages, and they were understandably quite scared. I safely brought them to a shelter, and soon they will continue their journey westward.
It appears that one of the little girls on the train has caught a slight cold, but her temperature isn't too high. We gave her some medicine. The border guards received candies to soothe her throat, and the customs officer received some stomach powder. All in all, it turned out to be a productive day.
Alexander Zharov
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October 16
Today, I transported a mother and her daughter to the RFU. The daughter has cerebral palsy (CP). They traveled from somewhere near Mykolaiv, and they were tired. However, everything here was routine and as it should be. The best part of my job is the routine.
Yesterday, I attended the anniversary of the HOPE shelter, where I congratulated Jay and everyone involved. It was a solemn occasion, attended by a gathering of expat-Ukrainian volunteers. The group consists of people who work in this field. So, gathering was relatively small, with no representatives from Red Cross or the UN. Many people from my TESCO days are still here, but I barely recognize anyone in person due to the constant fatigue back then.
Alexander Zharov
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Shipment on October 13th. 10 boxes, 305 lbs, $850.18. Supplies for urology, colostomy, surgeries, tracheostomy etc. sent to Odessa and Kherson hospitals.
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October 14
Today, I quickly transported an expat volunteer from Germany. Everything went smoothly, but there won't be any photos.
Alexander Zharov
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October 13
Today, I transported these kids along with their parents. They are from Kryvyi Rih, the mother urgently needs medical treatment. Also bombing. The documents are a bit irregular.
Sometimes, I think that straightening out perfectly correct documents here would be a challenge even for a perfectly healthy person during peacetime. Oh, the gratitude I have for the Ukrainian border! They help as much as they can.
Alexander Zharov
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October 12
Practicing cricothyrotomy and IO with our students.
Alexander Smirnov
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October 11
Yesterday, I returned to the base. The mission covered 2,900 kilometers and lasted for four days. It took me from Lviv to Barvinkove, Konstantinivka, and back to Lviv, passing through Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
On the first day, I loaded up with hospital humanitarian aid in Lviv and stayed overnight to leave early. The road was going to be long.
On Sunday, Svetlana, Sasha, and I, who I've successfully worked with before, left at six in the morning and headed to Barvinkove, to a military hospital where they bring the wounded from the stabilization points in the eastern theater of operations. It's also a stabilizing point itself. The last three hours of the trip were on what you can conditionally call a road; the average speed on some stretches dropped to 20 km/h.
Have you ever sat on a jackhammer? No? Well, don't.
At the hospital, we unloaded and stayed overnight. I'll talk about it separately. The medical supplies and food are in good shape, but all the equipment could be listed on eBay as antiques. That's where help is needed!
The following day, we continued our journey through Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, heading to Konstantinivka to pick up a man who, with his wife, had endured frostbite in Bahmut. One leg had to be amputated, and the other lost several toes. At the hospital they did this procedure gently, tailoring it for the prosthesis. However, in those conditions, the healing process didn't go smoothly, and he needed to be transported to the west to avoid worsening the situation.
In Konstantinivka, we had to put on all the protective gear because the so-called "Russian world" was nearby, and the area was considered risky.
We picked up the patient and left for our journey. At a gas station, I discovered that a rear tire was flat (we have four at the back). This is tricky because you don't notice it right away, and when you do, it can lead to a second tire blowing out. Luckily, we were fortunate. We limped to a tire shop, where a mechanic fixed the tire while his wife served us coffee and sweets. They didn't accept any money, but it was clear they would be offended if we insisted.
We arrived in Lviv around two o’clock in the morning despite using emergency lights.
We unloaded the patient, and I spent the night there in the city. We had already found the next passengers, but after spending over 20 hours in the car, I was confusing the steering wheel with the wheel of Samsara.
On Tuesday morning, I took a family to Poland – a disabled man, his wife, and three young children with inadequate documents. Thank God, there was a friendly shift on the Ukrainian side of the border, and on the Polish side... it all went smoothly.
In this mission, another vehicle followed our route, loaded with hospital humanitarian aid. The teams coordinated well, and it worked out perfectly.
Working with Svetlana and Sasha is wonderful. Sasha has become proficient in handling the ambulance and confidently drives through Kyiv with the emergency lights on. Svetlana acts as a coordinator in the crew, which is invaluable. Questions are resolved over the phone as they arise. I'm very pleased with them.
By the way, Svetlana made two video clips showing how we operate and what we see. They're in the photos, and I recommend checking them out.
I've slept, and now it's time to work on Nika. After all the rough roads we've been through, everything that could have loosened, come apart, or gotten out of whack naturally did just that. The vehicle maintenance is going to be a lengthy process.
Alexander Zharov
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October 10
Our friends from Odessa have kindly shared pictures and videos to keep us updated on recent developments. Shipments on September 7th, comprising 8 boxes with a total weight of 297 lbs, have reached their intended destinations, which are hospitals.
The shipments contained essential medical supplies such as special food, pump and feeding supplies, surgical dressings.
Thank you, Migdalia Tracy and Boris Bronfine!
Yulia Orlova
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October 9
With my students on graduation day.
Alexander Smirnov
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October 8
Shipment on October 6th. 342 lbs, $1018.34. 2 boxes of board games and craft supplies for Kharkiv kid's volunteers (Eugen Berezovskiu) and 6 boxes of medical supplies sent to hospitals in Odessa and Kherson. Supplies collected by our doctors from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. We would also like to express our gratitude to Migdalia Tracy for helping with getting feeding supplies and Marina Babichenko and Valeria Pasternak, for donation of diabetic supplies.
Yulia Orlova
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October 7
Today, I was loading up. The mission is multi-stage, and it was prepared for a long time by several volunteer teams. It will involve humanitarian aid and patients, and other vehicles. In the meantime, I stocked up on high-quality hospital-grade medical supplies in quantities that would rival the best days of Tesco. Just the delivery of these supplies would already justify the trip. I'll spend the night in Lviv - to get an early start and travel a long distance.
While I was loading up, I heard about the attack on Israel.
Sometimes, I feel like a Dutch boy plugging holes in a dam with my fingers. But... there are many of us. There are simply more of us. And that means, "Long live reason, long live music..."
We'll roll under the radar, without messengers, but when I return, I'll tell you everything.
Alexander Zharov
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October 5
It was quite a day - wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
We were transporting a large family to Poland, which required two vehicles. The men had a consistently serious condition. In his hometown of Konstantinovka, when shelling hit his house, he couldn't stay on his feet and suffered a spinal injury. He already had hip implants. Adding to his misfortune, he had to crawl out of his home until he was found 13 later. All in all, it was a moderately severe case, and after the long journey, lying down was difficult for him.
At the Polish border, they subjected me to a thorough inspection. In an ambulance. With a patient on board. And they really went deep with the inspection, which was strange. I even pointed out the pocketknives on my person, but the question about the presence of narcotics made me sardonically laugh and I asked them what kind of substances the gentlemen prefer. They searched everything, as thorough as could be!
Meanwhile, the patient was in the car, and time was ticking away. In the end, I lost two hours. Thinking that "others" sometimes stand in line for 12 hours and doesn't help. I don't transport "others."
Of course, they found nothing suspicious, and they had me sign a protocol to that effect before letting me go.
And yes, I did mention our consul, the Sixth Fleet, and all sorts of curses. It just doesn't work.
But after that, everything went as usual. Everyone is resting now.
Alexander Zharov
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My students are practicing how to save lives.
Alexander Smirnov
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October 4
Shipment on September 30th. 306 lbs, $860.30. 8 boxes of medical supplies sent to hospitals in Odessa and Kherson. Supplies collected by our doctor Bronfain and doctors from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and Lyudmila Chikalova and Yelena Samisheva. We would also like to express our gratitude to Jonathan Michelin and the Community Clothing Center in Orange, MA, for their donation of supplies.
Yulia Orlova
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October 3
Today is a significant date! I received my third passport since the start of the war.
The first one was standard, with 17 pages for visas, but it was empty. It ran out in May 2022. Back then, I had to travel across the border a couple of times a day at times.
The next one was a "service" passport with 43 pages, and it only ran out now. It lasted a long time because I was based in Ukraine for half a year.
They issued it on time, and I have less than a page left – 159 border crossings.
These are my "awards" of sorts.
Alexander Zharov
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October 2
I returned during the night. It was the second time I worked with the wonderful paramedic Roman.
We were transporting a man, not quite elderly, but someone who had first simply had bad luck, and then had the misfortune of dealing with the local healthcare system that had essentially confined him to his bed. Despite an impressive list of diagnoses, he now has a chance to get back on his feet.
We brought them from the illustrious Mykolaiv, 1000 kilometers there and the same distance back, quickly and smoothly. Because, as they say, God loves us.
The city has changed significantly since the beginning of the war. In April of last year, it was barely a lively place, with few pedestrians and even fewer vehicles, mostly military ones. Checkpoints and patrols were a common sight.
Everything changed after the frontlines shifted. Traces of shelling are still visible everywhere, and the city is constantly under bombardment even now. During the night we spent there, we heard two explosions. However, the city is alive - traffic on the roads, stores, cafes, everything is open late at night, and people are out on the streets.
I wish it could be like that everywhere...
Alexander Zharov