A woman from Surbiton has been collecting medical supplies for wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Olena Maherovska, originally from Lviv, Ukraine, began collecting crutches, wheelchairs, bandages and other medical donations at the beginning of this year as the Russian offensive escalated.
So far, she has sent off three batches full of medical supplies that have been shipped to the frontlines – containing up to 20 pairs of crutches, three wheelchairs and other medical donations.
Since the war broke out four years ago, Olena’s parents – who still live in her hometown of Lviv – have experienced power cuts and shelling, whilst her brother has been on the frontline fighting for the past three years.
Olena said: “I just felt I couldn’t sit and do nothing when my people are dying there. My brother and many friends and relatives are fighting.”
Olena, 59, has self-funded this initiative using local Facebook group chats to encourage donations that she often collects herself via public transport, which is then sorted, packaged and shipped by vans already carrying supplies to the Ukrainian front line.
Whilst she has been pleased by the community response, Olena is hopeful that more people will donate.
One batch arrived at Zaporizhzhia military hospital – a town closest to the frontline of fighting, a regular target of Russian attacks, where wounded the donations are helping Ukrainian soliders recover.
A report conducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimates 600,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, wounded or gone missing.
Since the war started, the World Health Organisation has documented at least 2881 attacks on health care in Ukraine, affecting health workers, facilities, ambulances, and medical warehouses – with the regions of Chernihiv, Kherson, Odesa, Mykolaiv and Sumy operating under extreme pressure.
Having previously collected living essentials and warm clothing after Russia’s assault on the country’s power grid and the subzero winter temperatures, Olena began prioritising urgent medical equipment as Russia ramped up its offensive in southern Ukraine.
Olena added: “Everyone is in a depression, everyone has lost somebody, and you don’t see any men apart from the very young or very old. The other men are either fighting, been killed or left the country.”
As the war endures into its fourth year, Olena’s work is a testament to the many efforts of ordinary people across the UK supporting frontline soldiers.
Featured image credit: Olena Maherovska
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