Winter aid urgently needed

Nina Mykhailivna from Hostomel in Kyjiwska Oblast is one of the people arche noVa supports. She is 88 years old and was born during WWT. She would never have believed that this nightmare would come upon her again. She fled from the bombs with her son's family in March. That was fortunate, because their mutual home was struck. In the meantime, the family has returned. Her daughter-in-law Valentyna tells our local partner organisation Civil Ray of Future that they need support to rebuild the house.

Comprehensive winter aid in the North and East of Ukraine

arche noVa has been providing emergency aid on the ground since the invasion of Ukraine. Currently, we are concentrating our activities on urgently needed winter aid in the north and east of the country. We contribute to the reconstruction of residential buildings and distribute relief goods. These include heating materials, food, hygiene kits and non-food items such as blankets, mattresses and household goods. Looking ahead, we have already started distributing briquettes to people in particular need with 'New Way' in the summer.

Fuel distribution already started in July

Vira from Kurtiwka in Donetska Oblast is very grateful that her family received fuel in the course of our project already in July. "This is a very important help," says the elderly woman. Vira has lived in this village all her life and built a house together with her husband. She will not leave her home even now, although the fighting is close. For eight years now, the conflict with Russia has dominated the region. For better or worse, Vira has adapted to it. "We have installed a solid fuel boiler with two burners in the house. We cook food with it, and in winter we will warm ourselves with it," she says. But the price of wood had already risen extremely in the summer, she says, so that the many elderly people in the village were unable to stock up. Their pensions are barely enough to live on. Vira and her family have been preparing for winter on their own, searching for old trees and collecting branches. "But that won't last long," she fears. Therefore, she is happy about the distribution of arche noVa with the local organisation 'New Way'. "With this, we will be warm this winter and also survive the remaining challenges," she says with a smile.

Help for abandoned pets

Valeriy and Vera from Horenka in Kyjiwska Oblast are among the people reached by our Ukraine project. They are waiting for repairs to their house, which has become not only their home but also a shelter for abandoned pets. The couple has always loved animals. Before the war, they had five cats. Now 26 cats and ten dogs live with them. They have saved the lives of a total of 200 animals. Valeriy had picked them up starving and roaming the streets when he and his wife returned to their village after fleeing the attacks. Little by little, the other residents are also returning and are very happy when they find their dog or cat alive. As part of our cooperation with Civil Ray of Future, we are supporting the repair of the roof hit by shrapnel and the shelled windows at Valeriy and Vera's house.