On 22 May, Vasyl Savka, Director of Kolping Ukraine, travelled to the south-east of Ukraine, to the Kherson region, with an relief transport. He delivered relief supplies to villages that had been under Russian occupation for many months. He was accompanied by the local police. Here is his travel report:
“Last week, I travelled approximately 2,000 kilometres in the south-east of Ukraine, in the Kherson region. On 22 May, at 00:30 am we set off for Kherson together with representatives of the Chernivtsi police. After a journey of almost twelve hours and over 750 kilometres, we were met at a petrol station near Mykolaiv by colleagues from the Kherson police. From there, we drove straight on to the villages in the Kherson region that had been liberated from the occupation.
Food for the hospital and a diesel generator
After another 2 hour‘s drive – about 150 kilometres, half of which was over rough terrain and fields – we reached a small village where around 40 villagers were already waiting for us. Representatives from the Central District Hospital in Beryslav also joined us. We handed over a 12 kW diesel generator and around 150 kilograms of food for the hospital staff and patients.
In the village of Stepowe, we delivered around 800 kilograms of humanitarian supplies: food parcels (rice, wheat and corn flour, pasta, oil, canned food, drinking water), a small generator and sweets for the few children who have remained in the village.
Villages were under Russian occupation for eight months
After another 25 kilometres on dirt roads, we reached the neighbouring village of Sahajdatschne. Here, too, people had gathered in the hope of receiving relief supplies. The situation in Sahajdatschne is just as difficult as in the previous village – like in many settlements in the area that were under Russian occupation for over eight months. Almost all residents have lost their jobs and are forced to survive through small-scale farming and humanitarian aid.
Food prices have doubled
“In the frontline areas, especially in the Kherson region, the majority of the population lacks food. In the Zaporizhzhya and Donetsk regions, every second resident is affected. Food prices have risen by 25%, with some vegetables even doubling in price. This trip was extremely valuable and educational. No report or narrative from other volunteers can convey the impressions you get when you see everything with your own eyes.
The people are exhausted – the resistance is unbroken
We talked to people who survived the occupation and saw fear and exhaustion – but also incredible resilience in their eyes. Every “thank you” was genuine and deeply moving. These encounters remind us how important it is to be there for one another, to support each other and not to leave those affected alone with their suffering. Experiences like these change your perspective, give you new motivation to continue – and teach you to appreciate the simple things in life even more: peace, warmth, food and human kindness.
Thank you for your solidarity
Our heartfelt thanks go to KOLPING INTERNATIONAL, the Diocesan Associations of Hildesheim, Augsburg, Erfurt and Limburg, the Johanniter and Renovabis for their generous help and trust. Without the police escort in Cherson, this aid would hardly be possible. Thanks to your support, we were able to bring hope, food, medical equipment and human contact to particularly hard-hit regions. Your solidarity makes a real difference – and gives the people of Ukraine strength and confidence. Thank you for being with us!!!
