What is the current situation in Ukraine?
The situation is dire. The civilian population and everyday life are being targeted by air strikes. For over three weeks, Kyiv has been under daily attack, including at night, from drones and missiles, leaving people with little respite. Everywhere you look – in the north, east and south, and now increasingly in the west of the country too – people are being killed or wounded, warehouses containing food and hygiene products are being attacked, people’s livelihoods are being destroyed, and critical infrastructure is being damaged or set alight, including the rail network, which has long since become a lifeline for transport and supplies for the population.
Just a few days ago, a school here in Kyiv was destroyed in an attack. The water supply was also hit, leading to problems with water pressure and occasional supply cuts in several districts.
Apart from the immediate danger, these attacks repeatedly bring public transport to a standstill. Traffic jams form, everyday life becomes more difficult and people’s frustration grows.
What is arche nova doing? How are we supporting the affected population?
Thanks to our strong network of partners, we are very close to the local people and know exactly what is needed. Among other things, we are providing immediate assistance to protect human life by expanding shelters and – now, ahead of the coming winter – preparing public warming centres in various communities.
We are also working on various construction sites to secure the infrastructure. Our focus here is particularly on decentralised energy and water supply, especially now as the cold season approaches. Solar panels, charging stations and generators are no longer merely additional energy sources in Ukraine, but form part of the basic infrastructure when critical systems fail as a result of the attacks.
Last but not least, arche nova also supplies equipment for educational establishments, public spaces, railway stations and hospitals. In doing so, we focus particularly on those most affected, such as children and young people, people with disabilities and older people. The coming winter will be particularly hard for these groups. We therefore always ensure, for example, that access is barrier-free when we build shelters.
Why is help so important right now?
Support is crucial right now because another difficult winter lies ahead. The sooner arche nova can set up shelters and heated rooms and supply the necessary technical equipment, the better communities can prepare for further attacks and prolonged supply disruptions. Through donations, everyone can make a tangible contribution to these life-saving activities whilst showing the girls and boys, women and men here in Ukraine that they are not being left alone. Even more than four and a half years after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, we continue to see time and again how people thank our organisation for its support – sometimes with tears in their eyes. Our activities, which we can only carry out together with our supporters, therefore not only provide tangible support in everyday life, but also offer hope and a vision for the future.
Why is this work so important to you personally?
Because, every day of their resistance against the Russian invasion, the people of Ukraine are also standing up for the values that unite us in Germany and Europe
When I came to Germany from Ukraine at the age of 15, I didn’t perceive any great difference between the worldview of many Ukrainians and that of people in Germany. That is why, if someone asks me today whether I feel more German or Ukrainian, I say: first and foremost, I am European.
People in Ukraine are paying with their lives, their health and their personal well-being for something that we often take for granted: the freedom to live independently and in self-determination within a democracy and a state governed by the rule of law. I know both countries; I see first-hand what people are losing, and that is why this work is a matter close to my heart.
Yes, I want to help!
Since 2022, we have already supported more than 130,000 people.
With your donation, we can make an even bigger difference!
