"Points of Invincibility"

Our fundraising event on December 16th was delayed because our Ukrainian partners had trouble getting online. Russia is carrying out its heaviest missile attacks in weeks on the country's vital infrastructure. Power is out in large parts of the country.

For this reason, Irina Gritsay from Dnipro had to miss the meeting entirely. Her city is under constant shelling, and there is no electricity. She and her family have sought refuge in a shelter.

Fiery red sky over Bakhmut

Lilyia Kislitsyna joined the call late from one of the "Points of Invincibility" in Lviv. This is the term President Zelenskyy uses for the survival centers being set up across the country. 5,000 are planned—far too few for comprehensive coverage, but life-saving for those who can reach one. They are much more than just warming centers; they provide food, medicine, and, most importantly, electricity for mobile phones, laptops, and essential medical equipment.

In Lviv, Lilyia Kislitsyna reported that the sirens have been sounding for hours. Kindergartens are closed, and mothers have to stay home and cannot go to work. Many children spend hours in these survival centers because they cannot heat or cook at home, as most households depend on electricity. Nevertheless, she and her women's organization, "Smarta," continue to succeed in sending aid to the even more beleaguered city of Kramatorsk, her hometown. Thanks to previous EAF donations, they have been able to deliver power banks for online schooling, food, and hygiene products, as well as an ambulance that is currently in use in the Kharkiv region.

Lilyia Kislitsyna uses stark words and imagery to describe the situation in Kramatorsk, which is only about 25 kilometers from Bakhmut. Senseless Russian attacks are currently concentrated there, and the fiery red sky is visible as far as Kramatorsk, which is also regularly hit by missiles. There are currently 12 of these "Points of Invincibility" there, and our partner hopes that donations will help equip them with spaces where mothers with children and the elderly can retreat.

Refuge in Odessa

A little later, Natalya Deliyeva from Odessa was able to join the call. She was at a gas station where there was electricity to give a brief report. She is particularly concerned about Kherson, about 150 km away, which has suffered major destruction once again. Many people are trying to flee from there to Odessa, and the city is struggling to provide for an increasing number of internally displaced persons. With previous EAF donations, Natalya has already been able to procure much-needed medicine. A large number of people are sick, a cold and flu wave is sweeping through the city, and there are also the wounded. There are only a few pharmacies left open around Odessa, which is why the contribution her women's organization, "Diya," makes to supporting the civilian population is so vital. Relief efforts are hampered by the fact that many aid shipments struggle to get through because Russian checkpoints often block the vehicles. Natalya Deliyeva is also requesting donations to purchase more sensor-based blood glucose monitors for children with diabetes. An initial shipment was already made possible with the help of funds raised by the EAF.

The appeal from our Ukrainian partners remains urgent: "Help Ukraine defend itself. Our victory is a victory for the entire democratic world."