A Journey through Ukraine's War-Torn Villages and the Children in Need

During the most recent trip to Ukraine in July, our CEO Joe Sullivan and the Ukraine Friends team visited a village in the Kyiv region named Moshchun.

When the full-scale invasion started in February 2022, Moshchun was among the first areas to face severe Russian attacks, along with Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel, and other localities in the Kyiv region.

Ukrainian forces liberated Moshchun last spring, but the aftermath of the invasion continues to serve as a daily reminder for the locals of the true face of this war, characterized by terrorism against civilians. Joe Sullivan shared:

"When we came to Moshchun to deliver laptops to the children living there, I was left speechless when I saw the devastation caused by the Russian army. Almost every household had their house gates and walls covered in bullet holes, a result of the indiscriminate shooting by the Russian forces. It was evident that they wanted to ensure no one was hiding behind those gates.

But that wasn't the end of it - during our visit to one of the local families, we saw a little boy sitting near the pieces of a Russian missile that had fallen into their yard. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors these children have experienced. Their current reality includes the lack of basic facilities like hot water and electricity, for some the inability to attend school in person, and the lingering mental trauma and constant stress, as the threat to their lives still persists daily. There is no way to avoid visible reminders of the war.

Families are trying to maintain some sense of normalcy amidst the damaged houses and infrastructure, after having lost their friends, neighbors, or family members. The need for help is glaringly apparent, and nonprofits play a vital role in supporting them while the government is fighting with the existential threat."

There are hundreds of villages like Moshchun in #Ukraine, where Russia has left nothing but destruction. Thousands of Ukrainian children are in dire need of assistance, including mental health support and access to education.

Please join us in helping families in Ukraine and giving these children a chance for a better life:

#ukrainefriends ##ukraineopportunity?#ukrainefuture?#ukrainesupport #ukrainewar #standwithukraine #children #humanitarianaid #technology #education #infrastructure #laptops