resilience

thriving under fire: the vast Ukrainian volunteer network

they've been at this for over 20 months

they've been at this for over 20 months

Ukrainians have not waited to be rescued - they have been extraordinarily brave in facing their invaders and singularly determined to help one another survive; every single one of them: guts and grit; when they get knocked down, they get up, dust off and keep fighting

they don’t expect other countries to send in the calvary, they politely plead for fighter jets, tanks, longer range artillery and keep fighting with one hand tied behind their back; they bleed and die alone, defending a border between democracies and a brutal dictatorship

they do not have a choice: they are defending their home, their parents, their children, their children’s future; they can either liberate their sovereign country or acquiesce to live under russian oppression…they all united under one common purpose…an entire country with one mission

all Ukrainians are affected by the war and each Ukrainian is directly related or close to soldiers on the front lines and vulnerable civilians in need; friends and strangers in this bizarro world, they know each other’s loss, feel each other’s pain, fear for their children’s future

these deep ties unite soldiers, volunteers, men, women, children, babuskas, brothers and strangers across Ukraine in a singular purpose: to do their part in liberating every last Ukrainian from putin’s tyranny

within months of russia’s full-scale invasion, a sprawling matrix of volunteer organizations developed across the country establishing a vast, efficient, grassroots network to respond to the critical needs of its military and civilians 

these organizations have established a lifeline supply chain that delivers to those who need it most urgently; they adapt to constantly changing conditions on the ground, monitor needs in real time and collaborate with each other in an effort to maximize efficiency

many are headed by highly successful people displaced by the war from the private sector: CEOs, managers, teachers, professors, lawyers, savvy in incorporating private and public support, resources and connections to nimbly manage large scale operations

success of this organic web depends on organizational honesty and commitment to serve each other and the community at large; monitoring and persistent word of mouth that promotes honesty, transparency and efficiency throughout the network