Russia Bombed My Family Friend—No Home & Now Blind

Home, Sweet Home

Hello, everyone!

My name is Oksana. I'm a Ukrainian who has been living here in Haywards Heath for almost a year now after Russia started its war in Ukraine. My dog, fiancé and I were able to flee but the rest of our families and friends were not so lucky.

The village where my parents, family and friends live (Pokrovske in the Dnipro region) has proved to be extremely dangerous. Last year on Ukrainian Independence Day our local train station was bombed and yesterday, Russia again proved its total disregard for civilians just trying to live their lives in a small village.

This past Monday, May 29th, a Russian missile (not just one) hit the house where my best friend's brother lived. Thirty-two year old Sergiy, his wife Yaroslava (phys ed/manual technical skills and history teachers, respectively), and their two children (aged around 10 and one) were at home, going about their day, unaware that before noon, the place where they live, where they feel warm and safe and comfortable, would soon be smouldering in ashes and rubble.

The family is miraculously alive. The children were saved by the fact that they were playing in their room–the only part of the house to survive–but Sergiy and Yaroslava had to be rushed into intensive care. Sadly, thus far the doctors are unable to restore Sergiy's vision.

It must be a terrifying thing to lose your possessions, your car, your home, your money and your eyesight with the far-off push of a button. The sad but unsurprising result is that this young family now desperately needs a substantial amount of money for medical treatment and basic necessities, including shelter and transportation.

I realise this is not the first plea you have heard for help from a war-torn or suffering family. These are not the only Ukranians in dire need of immediate and urgent assistance. And this sounds exactly like a Christmas charity aid appeal.

Nevertheless, as uncomfortable as I am asking for financial help from friends and strangers, it's all I can do from this distance to help these close family friends and their young children. Any amount you can donate would be appreciated, be it the price of a car or a cup of coffee! It would show them that people support them and that even in the most difficult times, light can appear.

I look forward to your support

I will definitely share all screenshots/reports.

I would also like to say that I helped financially yesterday, and today I sent all my tips from the local coffee shop where I work to them. Every little helps, so the English say!

Thank you for your attention! Thank you for your support! Oksana