The humanitarian catastrophe caused by Russian aggression has left thousands of residents of the Kharkiv region without homes, access to basic services and livelihoods. The war has brought destruction, fear and grief, but even in the most difficult times there is still room for support, help and recovery.

The Luhansk Association of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities is implementing a large-scale project to provide logistics and administrative services for the delivery and distribution of supplies to households in ten of the most affected communities in Kharkiv Oblast. Among them: Velykoburlutska, Borivska, Shevchenkivska, Iziumska, Lipetska, Kupianska, Balakliiska, Tsirkunivska, Borshchova and Kurylivka communities.

The village of Liptsi, located just 10 kilometers from the border with Russia, has fallen victim to a brutal occupation. Destruction of infrastructure, torture of local residents and forced deportation are the realities faced by Liptsi residents. After the liberation in September 2022, the community is still recovering from the consequences of the war, and our team is contributing to this by providing people with the building materials they need to repair their homes.

A once prestigious suburb of Kharkiv has been turned into ruins. The occupiers not only used the village as a foothold for shelling, but also deliberately destroyed buildings after their retreat. After the liberation, the Russians continued artillery shelling, as a result of which there are almost no surviving buildings in the village. The association team continues to support the residents by delivering building materials for emergency repairs.

Shevchenkove survived two occupations: in 1942 by Nazi troops and in 2022 by Russian invaders. In September 2022, the Ukrainian military liberated the community, but the shelling continues to this day. Nearly 13,000 residents, including internally displaced persons, remain in the midst of destruction and lack of resources. Our team is helping local residents rebuild their homes by providing them with the necessary materials.

The town of Izyum has become a symbol of tragedy. Six months of occupation resulted in the deaths of at least a thousand civilians, mass graves, destruction of civilian infrastructure and total looting by the occupiers. Immediately after the liberation, our team brought food packages to the city. Today, we continue to help by delivering the necessary building materials to rebuild homes.

Chuguiv was devastated in the first days of the full-scale invasion. Half of the communities in the district were occupied or under intense shelling. Even after the liberation, the communities suffer from constant enemy attacks. The Public Union is actively working in Chuhuiv district, helping people rebuild their homes.

For six months of the occupation, there was no electricity or gas in the village. People lived in fear because Borshchova was shelled around the clock.

Although demining began immediately after the de-occupation, there are still debris and mines in the village. Our team is helping local residents with construction materials and tools so they can rebuild their homes.

On September 25, 2022, a Russian sabotage group opened fire on a convoy of civilians trying to evacuate. Twenty-six people were killed, including 13 children and a pregnant woman. Kurylivka was occupied for six months, during which time the Russians destroyed most of the residential buildings. The volunteer team of the Public Union provides local residents with building materials to rebuild their homes.

After the de-occupation of Kupyansk, the enemy began to deliberately destroy its infrastructure. The daily shelling does not allow for major reconstruction, so the main efforts are focused on temporary measures: covering roofs, covering windows with film, emergency repairs. Volunteers of the Public Union help the community residents by delivering construction materials.

Despite the large-scale destruction, the residents of Kharkiv region are not giving up. They are returning home and trying to rebuild their lives and their communities. Our team is working for them - to support them, help them, and give them the opportunity to feel safe and hopeful again.

The Hromadska Union, together with USAID, continues to fulfill its humanitarian mission by providing communities with the necessary resources for recovery. Each assistance provided is not just materials, but a step towards a normal life for thousands of Ukrainians who have survived the horrors of occupation.

We believe: together we will rebuild, together we will win!