” We’re putting out fires, a drone flies by, looks at where we’re putting out those fires, and after the drone leaves, a tank immediately starts hitting us.”
Even after the de-occupation of the Kherson region, the village of Sadovoe suffers from constant shelling, is completely cut off from electricity and deprived of drinking water and heat. Volunteers are afraid to go here so as not to expose themselves to danger. Drones, KABs and artillery of various kinds are a frightening everyday life for local residents.
“ The most dangerous thing is a tank. Two seconds and that’s it, we don’t have time to hide anywhere.”
” We slept in the open air for three days because the ceiling collapsed.”
” Drones are flying, dropping bombs, of course we are very scared, we are hiding in the house, because we have no shelter.”
The TBN UA team filmed these testimonies of the residents of Sadovoye to the sounds of explosions that echoed nearby. Drones-spies circle over the houses every day, looking for where people are. And then artillery strikes there. At civilians. Simply for the sake of terror, to keep people in constant tension and fear. Probably, there is not a single house that would not have been affected by the “arrivals” of Russian shells and bombs. The House of Culture in the village is completely destroyed, only the walls remain of the school, the village council building is badly damaged, but it is working – they distribute bread here. “It is sad and painful to see that people live like this, they survive better in this,” says Oleg Polyovy, a volunteer and regular participant in all the “missions of good” conducted by the public organization “We Can!”.
Despite the daily shelling, the villagers do not abandon their homes, because their native walls are the only thing they have. “No matter how much the drones interfere with us, we were still in the garden, planting potatoes and onions, and garlic, and tomatoes, and cucumbers ,” smiles a local resident. “ The drones fly, they film, maybe they laugh at us, but we still managed to work. My mother and I are making twists for the winter, and at that moment a drone flew into our garden. We were still able to do it, because a Ukrainian is a Ukrainian . ”
The residents of Sadovoye are full of determination and faith in an inevitable victory. They will have enough patience to live to see these dreamed-of times, but there is a lack of outside help. “We used to have a stove, but now it doesn’t work, the chimney is blocked with stones from destruction ,” says a local resident, standing near her shell-damaged home. “ We’re just going to fix everything somehow, drones are flying and that’s it, we’re running away and hiding . ”
Those who do not want to abandon their homes remain in the village. Even if they are dilapidated, they are their own. Anyone who has lost everything will understand how difficult it is to leave their native walls, which are full of peaceful, happy memories. Therefore, despite the danger, people stick together, help each other, and rally to survive the next winter. Having learned about the village’s need for heating, the team of the TBN UA channel and the “Mission of Good” project began to prepare for the road.
The plight of ordinary peaceful Ukrainians has united many caring people around them, including our regular partners – the Swedish organization “Barnens Oas” and the cultural and educational center “New Life”. Thanks to their support, our team fearlessly went to Sadovoye to help the village survive this winter. We brought 20 stoves, which we installed in every home where people live. For the locals, this is evidence that they are remembered and cared for. They felt the warmth of God’s love, which is easiest to show in good deeds.
” We are sincerely grateful to everyone who sympathizes with us and remembers that people still live in frontline villages and need help.”
“ We are very grateful to our friends from Sweden who responded and organized everything so quickly. So many stoves installed on a turnkey basis! It’s just a miracle, it’s very rare that someone helps us like that.”
” I don’t even know how we would survive without your help.”
“Mission of Good” has brought warmth back not only to the hearts of the residents of Sadovoye, but also to their cold homes. Let these stoves not protect against shelling, but they will help us survive the difficult winter and wait for the longed-for victory. House after house, village after village, city after city – we are returning hope and faith in a better present and future to people. Together we carry God’s values – love, peace, care, sacrifice. And as long as we help each other, we can do anything!
“Mission of Good” is a joint project of the NGO “We Can!” and the TBN UA channel, which was created to help Ukrainians in difficult times of testing. You can support the project financially at this link: Partnership
Let’s band together for good deeds!