31.03.2022

 

Here is a new message from Tetyana:

 

 I have brought today the first batch of things to the military unit. We bought really a lot of things that will make the life there much more comfortable! The store chain were I bought things gave an impressive discount when they understood that we buy things to the Army, and thus we managed to get a washing machine, a boiler (water heater), a microwave, film to cover trenches, big bags (you were right, they are needed all the time), a lot of smaller things like work gloves, towels, some cough medicines, chocolates, etc. Tomorrow I will also get 4 stoves (they are in demand now, so we had to wait till they are manufactured, it will add UAH 8200,00 to checks). I am really happy that, though we are not buying military things, we can make the everyday life of people at military unit a bit easier. Only a month ago they took warm water, possibly to wash clothes, eat hot food as something that goes for granted, as we all do; every day many of them leave from the unit to front lines where they will not have such possibilities. And I do believe that it is an important thing to  do their life in between as comfortable as possible in the given circumstances and considering what they have to face in the nearest future. I am so grateful to you and to all people who contributed into buying these things! It really means a lot!

 

Tetyana's husband volunteered to fight as this way he hopes that he can save their sons (24 and 26) from having to fight. A lot of the men at her husband unit are from the area and every day there are funerals. It is heartbreaking to see photos of these young beautiful men, who are somebody's sons, husbands and fathers. It is hard to find the right words to reply. At the some moments I am simply speechless. 

 

But when I saw @Klitchko his post this morning I knew again why I can not be speechless. We all have to stay loud and act. 

 

The past few weeks I've been in touch with a small team of ordinary people doing extraordinary work as well in Poland at the Ukraine Border as in the Western Ukraine, helping especially orphans with and without disabilities crossing the border. They do many others things as well.

You can read all about it in Denys's fundraiser. I am sure many of you have already donated. If you are still looking for a way to donate effectively then please take a look at this campaign. I've been in touch directly with Ian Miller, who is part of Denys's team and they are really working around the clock.

 

Coming weekend a new initiative will go live. Peak preview on: www.colorforpeace.org (WIP)

 

Thank you for your continued support!

 

 

28.03.2022

 

Last week, I asked Tetyana if there would be any way that transferring money would help her purchase something that would ease life in Lviv. She allowed me to share her response here:

"Dear Titia, I appreciate that you doesn’t stop fighting so much! It really means a lot!

My husband was allowed for today and tomorrow to go to Lviv to visit his doctor as he has certain medical conditions and got either cold or flu which is not good at all to him, and he is now sleeping. When he wake up, I’ll ask him what needs could be covered. 

 

Before he went to sleep we were thinking how to buy for example self-made stoves that may be used in the forrest when you cannot make a fire. They spend hours at night there and it is still very cold. And these are not things that anyone at the Army level thinks about. 

 

If you don’t mind that money from your bracelets go to such simple things that will make the everyday life easier, I’d be happy to buy everything needed. I guess 1.000 is absolutely enough for that. 

 

If some money are left or you’ll want to give more I contact the charity foundation where we donated before war and I see that they are very active now, and we’ll buy things for their needs. 

 

I am so touched that you do not forget about Ukraine as well as these 800 people who bought your bracelets! You know, at these times when even my deep love to people is challenged by what is happening here (because how people can do this to others?!), people like you, who support in their words and in their deeds help to keep the inner light on."

 

So we set up a Paypal connection and I send 1.000 Euros to Tetyana. She will share photos and more information soon.

 

As for the bracelets:

So far there have been 155 online orders, a total of 370 bracelets have been sent all around the global: San Francisco (CA), Paris (FR), Karlsruhe, Pulheim, Nauen, Gelsenkirchen, Leipzig, Falkensee, Mühlacker, München, Hamburg, Zossen, Beelitz, Vomp (AT), Westerstede, Sunderland (UK), Waldbröl, Bovenden, Mount laurel (New Jersey), Spiesheim, Carrigline (IR), Sarnia (CA),  Piove di Sacco (IT), Hudson (Ohio), Alexandria (VA), Mondiví (IT), Schaffhausen (CH), Dobbs Ferry (NY), Newmarket (UK), Nierstein, Moers, Torino (IT), Knoxville (TN), Amstelveen (NL), Kirchzarten, Windsor (UK), Balve, Leer, Bruckmühl, Hanau, Salt Lake City (UT), Mittelbiberach, Canton (MA), Harpstedt, Langen und noch viele weitere Städte. 

 

More than 500 bracelets were sold in Bergisch Gladbach. There are still a some available at the Osteria del Corso, Büggel, Edeka, Sander Bauernstube and at Mittendrin.

This week the first sum of 3.000 Euro will be transferred to Blau Gelbes Kreuz. Nearly 1.000 have been spend on purchasing the goods I described early as well as on gas for the sprinter of Blau Gelbes Kreuz. Another 1.000 EUR has gone to Teytana. There have been several people who gave more than 5 Euros for the bracelets so the total sum will likely be close to 6.000 EUR. 

 

Last Friday, the local information portal called for interim help. They need food coupons for families, who are hosting refugees. Soon the state will cover for this need but until they do these food coupons can help those who generously opened up their homes. Today I will try to find out how much is still needed. 

 

Also a new initiative is in the making. More later this week. 
If there are questions - just shout!

 

22.03.2022

 

About a week ago a German/Ukrainian family came into the storage hall from BGK and announced that a truck would leave Cologne around Wednesday driving back to Lviv empty. They asked if we could fill up the truck and if we had somewhere we could deliver aid to. We noted down all the details and I started to reach out to Tetyana, the Ukrainian woman that organised a place for my cousin to stay in Lviv after he flew from Kyiv. She was all excited and happy to organise a delivery address. Aid is much needed in Lviv/Lemberg, where currently 200.000 people have gathered from Kyiv and many other Ukrainian cities. Tetyana put together a list of all the things desperately needed. Medizin, hygiene products, water, food and men's clothing especially underwear, t-shirts and socks. I ran around the storage hall collecting boxes but things like underwear are hardly ever donated.

 

There are tons of diapers and baby food and such but in Lviv, most women with babies only stay at the train station for max. one night until the next train takes them out of the country. So I went shopping, I learned that Aldi had men's underwear on sale so I went there and bought pretty much the entire stock. Next door at Takko, I purchased more t-shirts, underwear and socks. Then I went grocery shopping and bought instant coffee, tea, cereals, buts and granola bars. I wanted to buy instant soup as well and learned that the biggest brands for instant soup have their factories located in Ukraine and those factories have stopped producing as soon as the war started to give the employees a chance to leave the country. I spend 800 EUR and took all the goods the Cologne and created an area with a Lviv sign where I also put men's shoes and some more clothing as Tetyana had requested those as well.

 

The truck got stuck in Poland and in the end, wasn't able to load until Friday morning. I drove in early and ensured the right goods were packed. In the end, there was still space in the truck and two pallets of "bigbags" were loaded. I asked what those were for and someone explained they can be used for multiple purposes - especially to fill with sand and create barricades. I send Tetyana pictures of all the things that went onto the truck. I also told her it would be good if they had a forklift as these pallets are not easy to get off the truck without a forklift. Meanwhile, the truck driver was not happy as when he received the paperwork he insisted that some paperwork was missing. He had explained multiple times that he needed special documents in order not to get stuck at the border. The logistics contact at BGK was very confident that he had all the paperwork that was required so I had told Tetyana multiple times she needn't worry - we would cover all the needed paperwork. There are several people at BGK that speak Ukrainian so there was quite some dialogue going on that I wasn't able to follow. In the end, the truck drove off. What I did not realize at the moment was that he was not going to Lviv. I found out a day later that he was going to deliver the aid now to Luzk, a city not too far from Lviv. I must say I was not happy to hear this. Of course in Luzk, the situation will hardly be any different than in Lviv, but now I had to tell Tetyana that nothing was coming. She was understandably incredibly disappointed and I felt so so sorry. I tried to see if at least a part of the aid could be delivered to Lviv after all. No luck there. I knew when many volunteers work together things do not always go as planned and bottom line the truck did not go back to Ukraine empty but full of important aid that is desperately needed there right now. On a personal level though it is incredibly hard to have to disappoint someone, who is already in such distress. I cried a few tiers and apologised more than once. 

I am writing this as I think it is important to also show the difficulties that arise when you are trying so hard to do "the right thing". 

 

For a moment, I had to pause and regain my posture. In the middle of the night, I re-read Epictetus handbook. The next day, I went for a long walk in the woods with my dog. When I came back my phone rang It was Luca. Luca and his friend drove with his van to Zahony in Hungary. They had filled up the van at BGK with water, XXL bags of rice, more food and snacks as well as disposable tableware. They drive to a school at the Ukrainian border where they met Julia who was able to help them translate. Every day 1.000 to 5.000 people cross the border - many not knowing where to go from there. Luca and his friend were accompanied by two mothers, one with a seven and one with an eight-year old daughter as well as a twenty-eight year old teacher with a cat. On the way to Germany, they used google translate to communicate. All of them are now living in Düren, where Luca had organised them a place to stay before they left,. He told me they were going to have Pizza together that evening. 

 

It can never all be perfect or flawless and yet it is quite incredible what is happening right now. I so wished it wasn't needed in the first place yet I am proud to see all the different initiatives. If however, anyone who reads this knows of a transport to Lviv/Lemberg please tell me!!! I know help is needed everywhere but life is all about people and the connections we make along our way. If there is any other option for me to do something for Tetyana I really want to do so.

 

Shortly after my call, Büggel, the local zero waste shop send an email to say they needed more Peace Bracelets as they sold out. And this morning also the meeting place Mittendrin ran out of Bracelets. Both are getting restocked tomorrow. There are more than 800 bracelets sold now, Many of them for a little more than 5 EUROS. 

 

At BGK they have created hospital kits. Each kit is about one pallet large and contains app. 140 products. These pallets are going to Ukrainian hospitals with small planes. These same planes bring back severely ill patients. An absolutely impressive project. Each hospital kit costs around 8.000 Euros. So the money from the Peace Bracelets is definitely well used. 

 

I want to thank all the locations that are selling them as well as all the people who have purchased Peace Bracelets or donated their money and/or time to other great initiatives. 

 

May peace reign soon again. 

 

14.03.2022

I need to sit down and write an update but everything moves at such rapid pace that I can't find the time...

Bracelets are now sold also at the Edeka Supermarket.

Last Sunday, many volunteers helped create them. A woman in a wheelchair, a mother with her son, young men who hadn't done any handicrafts since kindergarten, Ukrainian students and my dear friend Anne. Altogether over 300 bracelets were completed.

 

New ideas are in the works to continue in a more scalable and impactful way, but planning will take a few days.

 

 

Longer Update coming soon!

 

27.2.2022  (translation from this Dutch original text)

Dear friends and acquaintances. It's time for a sign of life. I am still in Ukraine with my family. On Thursday morning, the first rocket fires began on Ukraine and Kiev. Immediately the whole family, Larissa, mother-in-law and Mark and Daan, were called together because the children live in a suburb of Kiev. There really wasn't a huge panic. Long lines in the shops and almost no talking. You can only wait for what is to come. Huge traffic jams to get out of the city. So we then decided not to leave the city. The car was already refueled. That night the shootings started well, sirens in the night and we took shelter in the underground parking garage under the apartment building. Most people have sheltered in the subway or in air-raid shelters under the various apartment buildings, but they are often fifty years old, cold and damp. I then decided to leave Kiev. To the west there were still long traffic jams and Mark and Daan are no longer allowed to leave the country. Men between the ages of 20 and 55 must remain in Ukraine. Finally decided to try to go to the mother-in-law's house, but that is towards northeast and towards the border with Belorus, Chernigov. On the way there were already Ukrainian tanks everywhere. we finally arrived well. You can also hear bombing raids here from time to time, but it is a lot quieter than in Kiev. We have enough food for the time being, but petrol is becoming scarce. There are now rumors that the army of Belorus will also be put on standby. If that's true, we'll be close to the front lines again.

Now I have another problem. Mark wants to return to Kiev and enlist in the Territorial Defense Army, a kind of vigilante. † If he goes, his brother goes too. I knew deep down that this was going to come and I also understand that they don't want to sit and watch, but as a father (and mother) it goes through your soul. I've been able to hold it off for the time being and Kiev is closed until tomorrow. We'll see again tomorrow. Everything changes every few hours.

I would love to shoot Putin in the head. Ukraine is still standing, I hope somehow we will win this war, but even now that I'm in the middle of it I realize there are only losers.

To be continued

 

02.03.2022

 

It's been silent here the past few days, both in the country and at home. Emotions ran high but I persuaded my sons to stay and not go to Kiev. The roads to Kiev have been virtually closed since last night. So going to Kiev has been canceled for the time being.

 

We've signed up here with the Territorial Defense. They must see to it that there is no looting and the like, a kind of BOA in wartime so to speak. We are on a waiting list to be called if necessary. Went to play sports with the boys this afternoon, in the distance you hear the air defense but you don't react to it anymore. Probably the first sign of habituation.

 

After all the emotions of the past few days, we actually had a joyful evening last night and tonight. All lights must be turned off at night. The neighbors even darkened the windows. We played cards in the dark by candlelight. Fortunately, there are also those soothing moments.

 

It has become colder here, this morning there was snow. We had to leave in a hurry. I only have a pair of sneakers and two track pants with me. Just like the boys. Larissa herself did not even carry any make-up. Only grandma has the dresses for picking in her own wardrobe :-)

 

Then the war outside, more and more fierce, as you can see for yourself on the news, Russian columns are increasingly slipping through the defense lines not far from us and in other parts of Ukraine. You should know that Ukraine (as well as Russia) has few roads, not a sophisticated road network like in Europe. From Chernigiv, where we are located, there is really only one kind of highway to Kiev. In addition, there are a number of country roads past villages, but you can't actually get through them with a column. A number of columns run out of gas and these Russian soldiers flee into the woods and try to get food and transport by force in the villages, or they surrender.

 

We still have a stock of food for the coming days, but the supermarkets are almost empty. You buy today what you saw yesterday but did not want to buy. Long lines if there is bread anywhere. We still have a cellar with potatoes, so that should be fine if there is possibly nothing left. Petrol is no longer available at all.

 

04.03.2022

 

It was another day full of emotions. We have decided to leave Nosovka tomorrow (Friday), Grandma's house is located about 50 km from Chernigov, where there is still a lot of fighting going on. The Russians are gaining ground on both sides of Nosovka, we are in a kind of corridor that is still Ukrainian. Those are not battles but they are slowly occupying the area. In order not to get stranded in occupied territory, we try to get to Kiev tomorrow. At six in the morning the curfew ends then we will leave. We don't know if it will be possible to get to Kiev, but there is a good chance. In Kiev we pack some things and leave for Lviv. When it is quiet in Kiev we spend the night there. Kiev -Lviv is a long road 550 km. We can't do that in one day, especially not with the curfew, so the plan is to spend the night with friends in Vinitsa. In Lviv we can probably rent a flat through acquaintances. We go with several cars so we also take people who want to leave the city. Grandma has said goodbye to a few friends, I have no idea whether she will come back here, she realizes that very well herself, but staying here alone is not an option. She thanked her best friend and neighbor for the friendship! The boys thought it was all a bit exaggerated, they don't really realize what's coming and believe that everything will be okay, they don't realize that after tomorrow we may not come back to Kiev either. Maybe better so. For Mark and Daan there is finally some action after a few days 😜. I still have enough gas to get to Kiev, but if we are sent back the tank will be empty. The supermarkets here are no longer supplied and petrol is nowhere to be found. In Kiev there is still a lot of things, including petrol.

05.03.2022

 

Arrived safe and sound in Kiev today. We've been on the road for hours. Lots of checkpoints, tailgate open and passport control. Concrete beams everywhere on the road you have to go through and of course now and then a Ukrainian tank along the road. In some places there are craters on the road from a bombardment and when entering Kiev you also see that buildings have been shot down. Mainly military objects, not residential flats. The Dnieper River runs right through Kiev. We have to cross a bridge to get home, only two of the five are still open to civilians. A 2 hour traffic jam to cross the bridge.

Finally home for a while. Very strange, you have to pack some things but you don't know what, does it still make sense to water the plants? Empty the fridge, the garbage from last week was stinking. For the time being for the last time under your own shower!! How many underwear do I take with me? No idea if I'll ever come back here.

Tomorrow the journey will go to Vinitsa, we are with four cars, we are taking eight more people with us. Still many people want to leave Kiev. The road to Vinitsa will also be much busier than today's with many checkpoints.

Kiev is almost deserted, few people and few cars. A bit spooky almost. In the center everything is still intact, only in a number of suburbs there has been terrible fighting.

 

06.03.2022

 

Started the journey to Lviv this morning. Last night I didn't sleep well because the siren went off a few times. You should actually go to the basement or lie down in the hallway, but that doesn't fit everyone. In the end we just stayed where we were, each in his own bed!!! It is quite a tour to get out of the Kiev, you are led out of the city through a kind of funnel, only one or two cars can pass at a time. After 5 hours of driving and standing still we had covered only 85 km. After that it got better and we were able to take the back roads. We took a detour to Vinitsa because we were warned that the direct road would be unsafe.

All four cars were chock-full of luggage and other people who had heard that we were going to Lviv. All people we don't know. All young women, because men are not allowed to leave the country. Terrible to see all those tears when saying goodbye to their parent, husband or family. Today, every Ukrainian has their own tragedy.

We would stay overnight in Vinitsa with friends. Around noon we received a message that the airport of Vinitsa had been bombed. The city remained open, so we arrived safely. We have had 35 check points today.

As I write this the air raid sirens are going off again, it's already like in Kiev here. Tomorrow we will try to get to Lviv, with the cars full of refugees (ourselves too, I am beginning to realize).

 

08.03.2022

 

Early yesterday morning after the curfew expired, we immediately started looking for petrol to continue our journey from Vinitsa to Lviv. Finally got a hold of it but two hours in line and then you get 20 litres per car!!! Fortunately, my diesel is so economical that I didn't really need to refuel, so I was able to fill my jerry can with petrol, which our friends in Vinitsa did as well. These Jerry cans we poured into the tanks of the other cars and while the air raid siren went off we headed for Lviv. A number of fellow travelers stayed in Vinitsa, so on the way a mother and daughter were taken along on their flight to Poland. This all goes via via, as soon as someone knows that a car is headed that way, it is passed on, So it is not the case that the refugees are massively on the street or something (except at the border crossings).

Much of the main roads are impassable or unsafe as parts of Russian columns have broken through the Ukrainian defense line around the main road, but bridges have also been bombed or damaged in places. In short, the infrastructure is a mess. It is also difficult to get correct information. We actually drive from checkpoint to checkpoint and then hear which way is best to take. The back roads are usually full of potholes, so those are parts where you can only go 30 km per hour.

When it gets dark, you also have to turn off the lights in the car, open the windows and turn on the flashing lights and ideally not be with many men in the car, because then they will check everything. So the fact that the car is almost full of women is a big advantage. Besides, grandma is sitting next to me, they don't even ask for her passport 😊.

 

We had to reach Lviv before 10pm due to curfew. With the exception of one short break we drove non-stop. On the way we found out that if we wouldn't make it, many restaurants are packed with mattresses where you can sleep and you can also get a place to sleep in the churches around Lviv. Finally we drove into Lviv last night at exactly 22:00 , so no overnight stay in the church, grandma was most relieved. The curfew control was also very low key.

A few hours before arriving in Lviv, we were told that we wouldn't be able to get into the apartment until the next day, due to the curfew. Yesterday afternoon I received an app from my dear friend Carry van Gils if we still needed a place to sleep in Lviv. Her colleague's in-laws had left Lviv for the Netherlands just a day earlier. Well that came just in time. The world is so small and there is an incredible amount of help from the Netherlands (and many other countries), really great. Everyone is committed and so many people who want to help. Deep down you keep hoping that everything will turn out all right and that the war will soon be over. It's even worse that there's nothing you can do, just wait.

We will stay in Lviv for the time being, because my sons Mark and Daan are not allowed to leave the country and prefer to stay in Ukraine and do something for their country. It's relatively safe here for now.

Oh yes, it is International Women's Day in Ukraine and Russia, which is always celebrated with lots of flowers for the women. No party and no flowers in Ukraine this year

To be continued in the coming days

 

14.03.2022

 

It's time for another message from Ukraine. Took some time to relax, but it does not go all that fast. We've been in Lviv for about six days now. The boys have found volunteer work, sorting and packing relief supplies to be distributed across the country. More and more acquaintances are coming to Lviv, friends of mine and Larissa as well as Mark and Daan's. Many (young) men flee Kiev and other cities, but are not allowed to leave the country, so they stay in Western Ukraine. If you do try to cross the border, you will simply be sent back as a man, you will not be arrested or anything like that.

In recent days, rockets have also been fired more and more by the Russians in places around Lviv. Last night I finally got another night's sleep without an air raid siren. I believe I have a chronic sleep deprivation, every night the air raid siren goes off a few times. You usually just lie there, but it takes a long time before you fall asleep again and then the next air raid siren goes off again. The day before yesterday a village not far from Lviv was bombed, it just doesn't stop, we felt the vibrations of the impacts here in the center of Lviv.

The city is becoming increasingly crowded with refugees and finding a place is already more difficult. Larissa has an acquaintance in Lviv who, in addition to her regular job, also works as a volunteer at the center for humanitarian aid. There, long lines of refugees, often with children, wait for hours for blankets, pillows, towels and a package with food. Fortunately, we were able to pick up a few things without a line and we have brought that to friends and acquaintances who have also fled to Lviv in recent days. Some are here in newly built flats that were once delivered with bare, concrete walls, only a hose from the wall for water, no shower or sink and one working socket. They got an old toilet bowl from somewhere and put it on the sewage hole and there is an old sofa bed. Yet they keep their spirits up and are happy that they still have something. Moreover, as a man there is nowhere else to go, not out of the country and if there is already a room available somewhere with a landlady, they would rather not have a man(s).

We're doing relatively well here. I live day by day. I think we'll stay here in Lviv for the time being, but when a missile hits the center everything changes.

 

20.03.2022

 

Life goes on, also here in Lviv. The war as well, unfortunately. Over the past few days, there have been moments for the first time when it seemed as if there was no war at all. I sat on a terrace and met some friends who also fled to Lviv. It feels very double to enjoy something or have fun in this time, but if that is no longer allowed or possible, life becomes entirely meaningless. Now that the first shock is over, you start thinking about how this is going to end and how long it will last. Friends are counting their money to see how many weeks or months they can last without an income. You also only have winter clothes with you while it will soon be spring. So all sorts of practical things, while entire cities on the other side of the country are being shot to pieces and people are unable to get out of their air raid shelters. In Lviv the air-raid siren still goes off a few times a day, but you don't really react very much anymore because usually nothing happens.

Liza, a friend of Daan's, fled to Europe with her sister and her two children aged 2 and 15. First to Poland where they spent the night in various places until Carry van Gils found shelter for them at Rob Adolfsen. (He keeps a diary on Facebook). After a short crowdfunding from Carry, we put them on a plane from Warsaw to Amsterdam. They have been very well taken care of there and have calmed down a bit.

I'm still in regular contact with some good friends in Russia, although I can't really hear the word Russia anymore. They think it is terrible what is happening but it is difficult at the moment to communicate freely and openly. Russia is a dictatorship. Unfortunately, the majority of Russians think less nuanced. The parents of a friend of Larissa's live in Crimea, their daughter lived in Kiev, so she has now fled to Lviv with children and grandchildren. Her parents in Crimea do not believe her, think that they are overreacting and that there is no war and that she should go back to Kiev. Unbelievable that propaganda has so much influence and goes so deep. When I hear that, I realize that the Russian people will not revolt to stop this madness.

I feel so powerless, so much suffering, death and devastation. We continue to have courage and believe in the good ending. A struggle for freedom. SLAVA UKRAINE

10.4.2022

It took some time, took some time to catch my breath, as far as possible. The country is slowly getting back on track now that the Russians have withdrawn around Kiev. The images are heartbreaking, it makes it even more clear that this is a war like all wars with all the associated horrors. I have a few acquaintances who were stuck in the region around Boetsja. They spent days in the air raid shelters while fighting took place in the streets. Their flat is still there, but there is no window in it anymore and everything has been turned upside down by the Russians and looted, but luckily they still have their home. The flats around it are completely destroyed!!! Another friend was forced to hand over his car to the Russians. He wrote me that half of the village (Katuzhanka) has been swept away and looted. He was only able to flee to Kiev with his family last week.

It is currently a lot quieter than before, the roads to Kiev are passable again, and the shops and restaurants are also partially reopening. Mark and Daan left for Kiev yesterday and want to go back to work and study. Mark opened a diner with a friend last summer, food was made there by volunteers for humanitarian aid in recent months, they are now going to try to start up again slowly.

I will stay in Lviv with Larissa and grandmother for the time being. Anti-aircraft guns are still often fired in Kiev, and it is still difficult to move freely through the city due to all the checkpoints and closed bridges. Besides, I still don't trust it and I want to keep Lviv as a base for a while. The outlook isn't great either, I expect things to get really bad in the East in a few weeks. So terrible that you already know that so many people will die unnecessarily.

 

I myself also need some time to bring order to the chaos that this war has brought to me, but I will eventually succeed. We are still alive, we still have a roof over our heads and a war will also end, although I don't know when.

18.4.2022

As many of you have read by now, rocket attacks were again carried out on Lviv this morning. One of the rockets has landed on a garage where customers have their winter tires changed, rather than at a nearby rail/change station.

All is well with us, we have not been in Lviv since yesterday. I hadn't told anyone, but I drove to Warsaw with Larissa and Grandma. I got on the plane to Amsterdam and am in NL for a week. Larissa and grandma flew to Turkey for a few weeks. Just a few weeks without air raid sirens and war stress, because it is getting heavier and more hopeless for us.

The boys are still in Kiev, I don't want to stay away too long so I'm going back to Lviv soon, that will remain our base for the time being. I expect that Russia will continue to ramp up the number of missile strikes (if they still have enough missiles in stock). Any setback to Russia (such as sinking warships and dead generals) they will respond with more attacks. Fortunately, Ukraine has an increasingly better functioning and covering anti-aircraft system. Unfortunately, it is all very unpredictable. 

There are moments when you feel powerless and still want to do something. Even if it is small in the overall event.

 

So I decided to create Peace Bracelets and it looks like many hands will help me.

Next Saturday a group of women and girls from all over the world will help to make at least 1,000 bracelets,

They are available for purchase on Etsy as well as locally. A sum of EUR 3,000 to 4,000 is to be raised, especially for children and young people from the Ukraine.

The proceeds go to the Blue-Yellow Cross e.V. (https://www.bgk-verein.de)

This organization is based in Cologne and has been supporting people from Ukraine not just now, but for many years.

 

If you have any questions or want more information, let me know! If you like the campaign, please share it! Thanks!

 

You can buy the peace bracelets here:

 

Peace Bracelet| #standwithukraine