GD volunteer, Denis Yurych’s shares his experience of serving people in Kyiv during the Ukraine-Russia Conflict.

It has been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. At the outbreak, Go Dharmic quickly mobilised a three-pronged humanitarian relief team working in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and Ukraine’s borders with Poland and Romania.

The Kyiv efforts were led on location by long-time Go Dharmic friend and volunteer, Denis Yurych. We recently caught up with Denis to see how the relief efforts have developed over the last twelve months, and find out what daily life is like for Ukrainians after a year of conflict. These are his personal experiences on life in Ukraine.

“I first joined Go Dharmic (GD) as a video and photo editor over 10 years ago. When the Ukraine-Russia conflict began, I was living in Kyiv when the founder and chairman of GD, Hanuman Dass, contacted me to establish a relief team. I began by gathering local volunteers and mobilising them. In just seven days we had 8 volunteers and within another two weeks, we had a team of over 18. The team worked with local restaurants and suppliers to provide hot meals to those trapped within the city, such as the elderly, the sick, and the young. At our peak, we distributed over 10,000 meals a day. We purchased and distributed 30 bulletproof vests to local volunteers, engineers, and medical personnel. We also acquired thermo-vision cameras and nutrition packs for babies. These were sent to shelters and hospitals. 

Everybody on the relief team showed great courage. They kept high spirits amidst the chaos and fighting. They consoled those in shelters. They didn’t quit. And, we were able to create a community that was shielded against the danger and suffering. We stayed in Kyiv to protect and support the locals. That was the main thing. The strain was awful and we were afraid, but we knew it was something we needed to do. We couldn’t abandon the people in Kyiv. We couldn’t abandon our city.

In Chernihiv, in Northern Ukraine, we were able to purchase and transport a generator to a hospital. At that point the city was almost occupied, and there was a humanitarian disaster there. There was no food or power. It was essential to helping the injured that the medics there had electricity. The suffering was terrible and it was important that we could act. At that time most people didn’t know much about or have access to generators. A year on, they are widespread and a part of life here.”

     Denis Yurych cooking hot meals for food distribution in Kyiv in March 2022.

LIFE IN UKRAINE TODAY

“Today, mostly, the people show determination. They have gotten used to a new normal, to a life of regular power cuts and shelter alarms. People use candles and independently powered lights. We Ukrainians are very adaptive and resilient people. Everyone has found their own solution and coping mechanism to the present crisis by supporting each other. 

Now, in Kyiv, the people still feel bad, but the city is back to some kind of normality. Some people are working. The elderly get money from the government. Really, more people still need jobs, but from my perspective, it’s getting a bit better. The supermarkets are well stocked. The city is adapting. 

My local shelter is the subway station and the mood there is generally positive. We come together and smile for the three-to-four hours that we’re there, because if you don’t, you have to cry. You don’t have many options. There are children there, so you can’t show any painful or negative emotions. But, we know that when the alarm ends we can go back to our homes, our work. Life continues. 

I sometimes get a kind of deja vu, because I remember my grandparents telling me about life during war. It is very different today, of course, because now you get shelter notifications and live updates on your phone or laptop. Technology has definitely helped. The war is “live” today. We can check telegram channels for the latest updates. I have sometimes heard an explosion and then ten seconds later received a notification about the explosion. We get the same for other cities. So, we are kept informed and this provides confidence, protection, and comfort.

I’m immensely proud of the work the Go Dharmic team has done in Ukraine. Many were helping, and we all played our part. It was, of course, difficult, but as I said, we Ukranians are strong and adapt.”

      Denis Yurych delivers a power generator in Kyiv.

Our Ukraine Humanitarian Relief continues today. We have just provided 230 pallets of hygiene products to Odesa to help keep people healthy and clean.

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