Ukrainian family of six without income sourses.

Hello, my name is Oleksandr.

The story of my family, who ran from Kyiv but still very close to the city. Sitting in a relatively small house, my father and mother have four dependents: three grown-up grandchildren who don't have any income sources. Those four are my nephews and nieces. All six people live on mom's and dad's retirement pensions plus my support.

They also help with food and clothes to neighbors and relatives who lost their jobs because of the war and don't have any savings. I was always asked, "why do you grow so many potatoes every year if you can just buy it?". Now I understand what they meant with their answer, "Because we never know what the future may bring". They help people who didn't grow potatoes.

Some time ago, all the stores were empty, but they started to fill a little bit. The sad side is that sometimes you have to pay for things that western counties send for free (sometimes it really happens). The Ukrainian government tries to help with free bread for the people, but people still try to buy products at the stores. Prices for groceries and medicine skyrocketed (at least doubled up from original prices before the war). Public transportation is not working, so to get to the groceries and medicine (that mom takes regularly), they need to get a pricey taxi (not always available because drivers don't want to risk).

I helped my relatives even before the war, but now help is much bigger, because I also try to send some money to my 7 cousins with their children and my sick aunt.

I feel big support from US people who surround me on the streets and at my job.

Thank you VERY MUCH for the attention to this crisis. VERY BIG HUMAN, THANK YOU!