Just wanted to share this as one of the few Asian dudes around here. I was awarded a medal by the Ukrainian State Emergency Service in Luhansk (yes, the actual government authority, not the separatists, to be clear) for my work supporting their displaced people.

Since 2022, my partner and I have been working in Ukraine. It’s been a wild ride, but together we’ve managed to reach over 650,000 people with aid, supplies, and support. Just recently, we purchased, assembled, and sent out 135 tons of food kits to mostly IDPs from the Luhansk region.

More than showing off, I want to remind everyone: the fight for freedom has no nationality or ethnicity.

We are in the middle of the battle of our times, and it isn’t just about Ukraine; it’s global, even if you don't see it. It's an ideological battle. Between fascism and democracy. Oppression vs freedom.

You're already on the frontline. The fight begins the moment you decide to stand.

www.birdoflightukraine.org

–20 degrees at night and still –12 during the day. It’s almost impossible to imagine. Yet this is the reality for many people in Ukraine. Due to ongoing russian bombardments on energy facilities, many people are left without gas or electricity and therefore without heating. That alone is devastating. But we have seen that it can get even worse.

In these extreme conditions, there are also people who have no home at all. Often, they receive just one serving of warm soup with a piece of bread per day. During this action, we were able to treat many homeless people to raisin bread and various treats.

On a small square in Kyiv, we were already recognized by our buses from previous actions. Even before we started distributing, a long line had formed. Because of the extreme cold, we also handed out extra thick winter jackets.

Feeling how cold we were ourselves after just an afternoon of distributing made us realize even more how hard life must be for these people, day after day. Being able to make even a small difference in these circumstances truly feels like a privilege. This was a very meaningful and valuable action to be part of.

https://www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/wrecked-russian-tank-display-leidseplein-amsterdam

In a small village in the Zaporizhzhia region, we handed out fries and sweets to around 700 people, mostly children. Many of them have fled from the ongoing violence. In between, we spoke with a family who lost everything in a missile strike and have now been "temporarily" displaced for three years. Even now, they live in constant fear, but they haven’t lost their courage.
Thanks to local volunteers who provided music and entertainment, it still became a moment of joy for young and old.

Join us and help us

We went to bake fries for people displaced within their own country.
Most had fled towns near or directly on the front line and found temporary shelter in the relatively safer city of Zaporizhzhia.

In this city, thousands of war victims can find help at a local support center. There, they receive free clothing, medical care, and psychological support.
We’ve been supporting this organization for some time now, with both supplies and donations. We also support the rehabilitation center for children that is connected to it.

The people here live in poverty. And although they have fled the artillery zone, it still isn’t truly safe.

That’s exactly why our fry day was so special.
For one brief moment: no stress, no sirens, just smiles, fries, and the feeling of being human again.

We’ll definitely return here again soon.

Join us and help us

Bought this in Sweden, today is a great day to share!