by Brigid Rowlings, LHI Communications Director
Where is the owner of this single shoe? Are they still somewhere in Kherson, trying to get by in a city that has been destroyed by the Russian invasion and occupation? Or did they leave to look for safety in western Ukraine or abroad?
Like much of the rest of the world, I celebrated at the news that Kherson had been liberated from Russian occupation. I perhaps felt a little more joyful and celebrated a little longer, because unlike much of the rest of the world, my days are filled with sorting through news from Ukraine—some from news outlets, but much from LHI’s teams on the ground. After reading and writing about the women and children living at the LHI Shelter in Lviv, tracking Father George’s efforts to get humanitarian aid to people still living on the front lines, and considering the substantial danger the drivers who transport that aid there put themselves in daily, getting some good news was a relief.
This relief was tempered somewhat by the thought that maybe people who are not immersed in news from Ukraine day in and day out might think that the liberation of Kherson meant the war was over and the people of Ukraine no longer needed aid. This is so far from the truth.
Vasily from our partner org Caritas Mostyska sent us three of these photos showing the devastation in Kherson. A quick Google search showed me that much of Kherson, including the main bridge into the city, lies in ruins.
While Kherson may be liberated, it is far from liveable. As Russian troops withdrew, they left behind landmines and destroyed infrastructure. And though the occupation is over, Russia continues to shell Kherson, knocking out power again and again as quickly as Ukrainians are able to restore it. As the cold weather intensifies, sometimes the only way to keep warm is to visit one of the warming stations that have been set up around the town square. Buildings, homes, and vehicles lie in ruins.
One bright point: cell phone service has been restored—sort of. One portable 4G cell phone power helps people make calls.
Volunteers from Lviv drove east to Kherson with aid such as food and personal care kits.
Stas, the Director of the LHI Shelter in Lviv, and a friend recently loaded two buses up with badly needed humanitarian aid from LHI and drove it to Kherson. They were met by people desperate to receive it. But, they were also met by people desperate to get out of Kherson to what they hoped would be better conditions in the west. Stas and his friend agreed to take them, aware that loss of power and heat is very much a threat away from the front line, but also aware that after surviving 9 months of brutal Russian occupation, even the harsh conditions in the west might be a relief.
LHI has 7 operating centers in Ukraine. We are ready to respond quickly to evolving needs. You can help us! Visit our Ukraine response page to learn more.