It is the second Christmas in a brutal war of aggression. 668 days ago, Russian leader Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine. Since then, local Caritas has provided humanitarian aid to four million victims.
The fragile ground in front of the dining bar is covered with a thick layer of ice. Fog hangs over the industrial city of Zhytomyr. Yet dozens of people wait in the bitter cold for their only hot meal that day: mashed potatoes, carrots and roast pork.
In the shelter
Suddenly the sound of sirens interrupts the conversation. As if controlled by remote control, people run to shelter. A couple clings to each other in fear: a Russian missile or drone attack is imminent. We, Caritas helpers and an ORF and “Krone” team, also take refuge in the bomb-proof basement. 33 steps underground and huddled behind two massive steel armored doors, we anxiously hope for safety. After 30 long, anxious minutes, we finally got the signal – and a sigh of relief!
What we had to witness is part of the daily hell of war in the vastness of Ukraine. Since the start in February 2022, approximately 35,600 air warnings have been counted.
But it is not only the tens of thousands of soldiers killed, the many civilian casualties, the bombed houses, schools and hospitals or the more than 345 destroyed bridges that make life so difficult for the millions of internally displaced people in Ukraine in the second half of the 20th century. winter of the war.
The hope for peace is frozen in the vastness of the land
It is the daily struggle for survival: for heat, that is, heating material, medicine, medical care, energy generators and food. Especially as the uncertainty about the next rain of rockets hovers like the sword of Damocles over this battle against Father Frost and his merciless cold.
“My comrades are ready to fight and die for their country. They endure cold or hunger knowing and believing that they can defend their loved ones, that is, their families and children,” says military chaplain Wladislaw (48), himself the father of nine children. But a possible victory over Russia depends on whether the Ukrainian army gets enough weapons and ammunition to survive this defensive war.
“Our humanitarian aid has reached four million people since the start of the war. 500 tons of relief goods were delivered from Caritas Austria,” said Caritas director Klaus Schwertner. “We will not abandon the victims of war. With firewood deliveries we can save war refugees from dying in the cold.”
Caritas donation account
IBAN: AT23 2011 1000 0123 4560
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Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
