My 3 uncles and their families in Ukraine

Hi everyone,

My name is Susanna Lovsky and I’m a singer/songwriter from San Francisco, CA based in Los Angeles, and I’m a first generation Ukrainian-American. In the late 1980s, my parents and my older sister (who was 4 at the time) left what was known as the Soviet Union and made their way to America as political refugees. Their route before getting to America: Praha, Czech Republic, to Vienna, Austria for 30 days, to Rome for 6 months, and finally flying through NY to settle in SF. They were invited by a host family to live in San Francisco, and with zero English, $90 amongst the three of them, and many hardships, they overcame adversity and established themselves. My parents were some of many that fled the tyranny of the Soviet Union, but not everyone left. For the ones that stayed, the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 meant regaining a nationality that had been kept from them for 70 years. Ukrainian people are strong, rich in culture, and proud, so they rebuilt.

Fast forward to 30+ years later, my mom’s side of the family are among those that proudly stayed in Ukraine. Sadly now, this beautiful country and culture is under attack. And the regions my uncles live in have been continuously targeted. Down below are some descriptions about each of them and their situations-

My mom’s youngest brother, Vitya, and his family live in Gorodishche (Shepetovka). This is the same village and house that my mom and her siblings grew up in. Vitya has a son, Yarik, who is 17 years old and still high school. Vitya recently got a letter that he would be drafted in the spring to serve in the army. We’re praying that the war is over before this time comes.

My second uncle Andron (Andrey) and his family, live in Nikolaev (Mykolaiv) in an apartment building. During the day, Andrey risks his life delivering oxygen tanks around different war zones in Ukraine to help the wounded and sick. His wife is a nurse and tends to many sick and elderly patients, some injured by attacks. In the evenings, they hide in a bomb shelter.

My uncle Sergei lived in Slavyansk (Slavyansk - Donetsk region) and was the only one that was able to get out as the war developed. A few months ago, him and his wife fled as refugees to Portugal. Men aren’t allowed to leave Ukraine at all because they have to serve somehow to protect the country, but because he had X-ray proof of a serious neck injury that wouldn’t allow him to serve in the army, he was let go. Sergei and his wife are currently living in a small apartment by a farm, where they’re fortunately able to exchange help on the farm for housing. At this time, they are not making any sort of income.

If you donate, you will not only be helping all of these families survive, but also saving the lives of others who are relying on them for aid of some sort. Whether it’s Vitya being given the chance to provide food for his son and wife, Andrey putting money into more oxygen tanks and fuel for driving around Ukraine, or Sergei and his wife taking the risk and uprooting their lives to settle into a completely new, foreign country…your generosity allows these people to have a chance, a lifeline.