Dasha is a volunteer in Dnipro who helped earlier this year get the Canada/Ukraine flag that was signed in Oshawa, Ontario, to the 93rd Brigade at the front lines.

I live in Ukraine, in the city of Dnipro. It’s one of the largest cities in the country with its own history. From the start of the full-scale invasion, it was one of the central hubs for volunteer activity.

Before the invasion, I was studying at the university and engaged in folk dancing. Now, I spend almost all my time on volunteer work.

The war has drastically changed my life, and I think it changed the lives of my friends, family, and [it has changed] our surroundings as well. My social circle, and the field in which I work, have almost completely changed.

On February 25, 2022, the day after the full scale invasion began, I started to volunteer. With the money I had, I bought some necessary items and delivered them to the military hospital. A volunteer center was set up nearby where help was needed, so I joined. I was still studying, not working, and I didn’t have an income; so, unfortunately, I didn’t have the means to donate or to make useful connections to help the military. But I had (and still have) health, strength, and the desire to help. So I came to help physically.

We fulfill requests from the military as completely as we can. In the very least, partially. I collect packages for the guys and girls, pack them, send them, deliver or distribute them, etc. This is for the charity fund where I am a co-founder. Separately, I also help the organization “On the Shield”. I feel good – engaged – with this work.

The worst thing for me in this situation would be to stand aside. I try to avoid this and help where I can be useful.

I think that Postcards to the Front is a very good initiative because it’s one way to support and show the guys and girls at the front lines that people care and remember them. Almost all the postcards I passed on to the soldiers I’ve been working with since the beginning of the invasion have a positive impact. The guys took postcards for themselves, for their comrades, even for soldiers from other brigades who are stationed nearby. They repeatedly send photos of how they decorate their living spaces with the postcards. They especially value letters with words of support from children.

What to say about this war? They [Russians] are killing us and simply trying to wipe us off the face of the earth. It’s very hard to see those who were supposed to restore and develop this country, who didn’t even have a chance to experience life, being buried in the ground.

Keep talking about the war in Ukraine and don’t let this topic fade away. Don’t let people forget. News about daily deaths shouldn’t become mundane or just statistics.

About the future? I honestly don’t have an answer. Victory is still far off, and I never liked making plans that most likely won’t come to fruition, even before the war. It would be nice to live until we have victory, and then I’ll figure it out, I guess. In any case, time will be needed to rebuild the country and to mourn the dead. There will be more than enough work. After the war, people [from around the world] can help rebuild the country. You can help support it morally, physically, and financially. Ukraine will find it hard to rise from the ashes. We will really need support.

Help Dasha bring smiles to Defenders with your postcard messages of support.

Need cards? Be in touch. We have some new designs at the printers that feature Ukrainian embroidery. postcardstothefront.Canada@gmail.com