Meet Oksana who lives in Smoline, a mining town located on the banks of the Kylten River in Kirovohrad region, Ukraine. She says of her town that “kind and hardworking people live here, always ready to support one another.”

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Oksana did what most of us do:  “enjoyed life … traveled, worked, and spent time relaxing at my dacha (cottage).” She retired early, due to health issues developed while working in a uranium mine and continues to suffer an occupational disease because of that work.

Oksana was also an activist and a member of the NGO Smoline Active, working on a variety of projects and taking part in cultural life. For instance, she sang in a women’s vocal group.

Now, she leads the local branch of Unbreakable Ukrainian Women, “where we weave camouflage nets for our Defenders. I continue to sing in the group, organize charity concerts, and raise funds for materials for the nets and for other military needs.

“The war has turned our lives upside down.”

For example, an enemy missile destroyed the apartment where her older daughter and her children lived in Northern Saltivka, Kharkiv. They lost everything. Her younger daughter lives in Odesa where “she hides from shelling almost every day.”

Such things a mother and grandmother shouldn’t have to worry about, day-after-day, month-after-month for more than three years.

Relatives living in Sumy region are constantly under fire, as their village lies near the border.

And Oksana’s brother and son-in-law are fighting on the front lines.

“I fear for them every single day.”

For more than three years, so many stressors.

And there’s more.

“For a long time, we didn’t know what had happened to my co-mother-in-law from Mariupol. She survived air-strikes but lost her home and lived in ruins for a long time, even eating snow to survive. Eventually, she managed to escape and now lives with us in Smoline. She also helps weave camouflage nets.”

Another unbreakable Ukrainian woman.

When the war started, Oksana and her husband were abroad on vacation. As soon as they were able, they returned to Ukraine.

At first, they helped internally displaced people—finding them housing, clothes, and food. They implemented a humanitarian aid project for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) – people who lost homes or who had to flee to another location in Ukraine because of the conflict.

Oksana volunteered as a dispatcher at the Territorial Defense headquarters. Then, in May 2023, she became the head of the Unbreakable Ukrainian Women branch, explaining that “I simply couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I knew I had to do at least something to help our Defenders.”

Along with weaving camouflage nets and creating other types of camouflage, the branch collects humanitarian aid, then sends it to the front lines. They also organize charity concerts and raise funds to buy materials for the nets. Oksana manages the NGO’s web page where she reports on the organization’s various initiatives.

The work is hard. And it’s not a paid role. Oksana volunteers 24/7, with no days off.

“I get very tired,” she admits.

“But when we receive reports from the soldiers, when they thank us, when I see that our work truly helps them—that gives me new energy to keep going.”

One of the joys in her work is the feedback that Oksana gets from soldiers who receive support through her organization, including letters and postcards, such as those written by postcard warriors all over the world for Postcards to the Front.

“They all say that these messages are incredibly important—they inspire them, lift their spirits, and remind them of home and loved ones. Often, the guys gather together, translate the letters, and read them again and again. It brings them joy.”

Recently, Oksana received a video report from the front lines. “It started and ended with words about how important these postcards are. Soldier Oleksandr spoke about how much they mean and even sent greetings in English to everyone supporting Ukraine. It was very touching.”

We featured this video message of thanks in our March 2025 newsletter (p4) and on our website, here. Indeed, it’s a very moving thank you note to you, dear postcard warrior.

We asked Oksana if she had anything that she wanted to say directly to our readers, to the postcard warriors all over the planet who send messages of love and hope and support to Ukraine.

“First and foremost—thank you. Thank you to everyone who supports our country! It’s so important for us and for our brave and unbreakable Defenders. We are strong, united, and doing everything we can to endure and win. Every bit of support matters!”

Until the day of victory and freedom arrives, Oksana “dreams of gathering all my family together and crying tears of happiness. I only wish for everyone to stay alive.”

And she hopes that we do not forget Ukraine after the war ends. That Ukraine’s supporters continue to stand with them “by helping rebuild our country and supporting the rehabilitation of our wounded soldiers.”

I daresay there will need to be some support for every trauma victim of the terror inflicted on Ukraine by Russia, of all ages. The very young who have known only missiles, not birds. The children who have experienced school these past three-plus years in a bomb shelter, with no playground. And the elderly who have survived life’s hard knocks, including, for some, WWII, only to arrive at their final days on this earth, terrorized and suffering terrible losses.

Please continue to tell others about this project.

Ask family and friends to write cards. Involve your children and grandchildren.

Share our website – postcardstothefrontcanada.com. Subscribe.

Need cards? Write to us in Canada at postcardstothefront.canada@gmail.com. We’ll send you postcards to write to Defenders. FREE!

If you have some written cards ready for us to ship to Ukraine, here’s our address:

Postcards to the Front

P. O. Box 184

Millbrook, ON   L0A 1G0 Canada

Your cards do make a difference