More than two-and-a-half years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the citizens of the war-torn country continue to be impacted by missile attacks, internal displacement, power outages, and insufficient access to necessities. While nearly 6.5 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, those who have remained at home are facing a third winter with more than 167,000 housing units damaged or destroyed, along with hundreds of hospitals and schools. 

In June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian attacks had destroyed 80% of Ukraine’s thermal energy generation and 33% of its hydro generation. In late August, Russia amped up these targeted attacks, hitting sites like electricity substations all across the country. There have already been emergency blackouts and scheduled power cuts as a result, and this is coming just as the temperatures start to cool. Thanks to your clicks, trivia participation, shopping for a cause, and direct donations, we’ve been working with Greater Good Charities and partners since the onset of the war, helping people and pets in need. Here’s how you’ve helped and how you can continue to help in the coming months.

Hygiene Kits

With supply chains disrupted and the dangers of constant shelling, Ukrainians have had a difficult time accessing essentials, Things that we take for granted, like personal care products and cleaning supplies, are tougher to obtain. During this summer, a substantial heatwave also hit the country amid rolling blackouts, leaving residents without electricity, unable to cool their homes or refrigerate their food. 

Amid these difficult conditions, we teamed up with Greater Good Charities and the organization DTCare to distribute hygiene kits this summer. These kits include toilet paper, shampoo, a soap bar, shower gel, a toothbrush, toothpaste, household soap, sanitizer, a towel, surface cleaner, washing powder, dishwashing detergent, a kitchen sponge, and a body sponge.

DTCare was tasked with distribution, and, according to their latest update, they had delivered 582 kits to cities including Zorya, Partyzanske, and Blahodatne, as well as to two humanitarian hubs in Kherson. They said they had a close call in Kherson, as one of the hubs was targeted by Russian drones a few minutes after they left. They were working to distribute another 140 kits.

As the winter looms and residents continue to lack consistent electricity, heating capabilities, and many resources, we’re working to distribute more of these kits to Ukrainians in need. As part of the effort, every $50 donation will allow for a free blanket delivery to a person or pet in need. Learn how to help here!

Blankets

Speaking of blankets, thanks to you, we’ve been able to distribute tens of thousands of blankets since the war began. They measure 4.5 x 6.5 feet and are made of wool in Kharkiv, Ukraine, which helps sustain some economic benefit for residents. In 2023, we were able to send 36,000 blankets to those in need. Shelters caring for displaced cats and dogs received 1,000 blankets, while 5,000 went to toddlers and babies.

We started off 2024 with further distributions, including to Shelter in Tomakovka, where more than 100 dogs and cats have been taken after being rescued from the front-line territories of the Zaporozhye region. Others have been given to animal lovers across the country caring for pets that have been left behind by residents fleeing for their safety.

The blankets’ material helps retain body heat and absorb substantial moisture before feeling wet, both of which are important for those who may not have heat or whose homes may be damaged. If you’d like to help us distribute more blankets to pets and people in need, learn how here!

Window Repair

As Russian missile strikes continue, at least 210,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, a number that continues to climb with each barrage. Hospitals are often impacted, including in a series of missile attacks in early July. These strikes killed at least 41 civilians, including children, as the main children’s hospital in Kyiv was hit. This reportedly led to the evacuation of children and damage to maternity centers and nurseries.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, 11 people were also killed during these strikes, while 68 were wounded. The University Hospital at Dnipropetrovsk State Medical University in Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, was among the sites damaged. Hundreds of windows were destroyed between two attacks on July 3 and July 8, many of which had already been damaged in earlier strikes. One of the attacks occurred in winter and destroyed the maternity department. With your help, we teamed up with Greater Good Charities and Insulate Ukraine to patch up some of this damage. 

Crews from Insulate Ukraine were already on-site repairing windows impacted by the July 3 attack when the July 8 attack began.

A worker from the organization, Ilya, shared the story, saying, “While we were on the fifth floor, the shelling began. I understand that the first rockets fell about 200 meters away from us, and we lay down on the floor in the corridor. When it quieted down a bit, the doctor told us we needed to quickly get down to the shelter. We all ran together to the shelter.

"Five minutes later, more rockets hit. These explosions were much more powerful than the previous ones. We heard glass shattering, and plaster falling in the basement. The walls started to peel in the basement. There were a lot of people with us, children, sick people who are being treated here in the hospital, people on crutches, in wheelchairs, who cannot move on their own. The doctors brought them there. Thank God, we all stayed safe, everyone stayed safe, there were no injuries, but it was very loud. The next day, we started working.”

Thanks to you, we’ve also supported Insulate Ukraine as they repair residential windows in several cities, including Izyum and Nikopol. Nikopol is close to the action and often shelled multiple times a day.

One resident who was helped in this effort, Tetiana, said, “I can't express my emotions in words, such a gift on the eve of my birthday, well done to you all. Now I live fully and use the windows; it's warm. At my age, I'm very cold all the time, but now I no longer need to sleep with warm bottles. Thank you!"

To help repair more windows before the winter sets in, click here!

Caring for Pets

In addition to people, pets have benefitted from blankets and repaired windows in their homes, but you’ve also helped us provide aid for them in many other ways. That includes providing cat and dog food to animal lovers and shelters looking after animals left to fend for themselves amid Russian attacks. With medical care needed for many of them, getting help with food takes some financial stress off their plates.

One organization we’ve worked closely with is Patron Pet Center in Kyiv. Volunteers there have worked tirelessly to help rescue and care for animals evacuated from the front lines, animals which arrive on a daily basis as the cities where they live are hit with missile after missile. In recent months, Patron has had up to 200 animals at a time, who need food, care, and safety after their ordeal.

The rescue ensures pets get veterinary exams, vaccines, and spay and neuter surgeries, all while caring for their more immediate needs. Volunteers have continued this work despite their own issues with blackouts. You can read more about their work here. If you’d like to support their efforts, click here!