Tired But Not Exhausted: A View From the Ground in Ukraine
Amb. Mark A. Green's Trip to Ukraine with UNHCR
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Ambassador Mark Green
The delegation witnessed first-hand the challenging operating environment UNHCR and its local partners are facing as they work to meet the needs of displaced persons and other war-affected Ukrainians. The delegation first arrived in Chisinau, Moldova, which hosts the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita. They then traveled 1,300 miles across Ukraine, including stops in Odesa, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson, to hear the stories of everyday citizens impacted by the war.
To date, the US has provided more than $2.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to support NGOs within Ukraine and throughout the region. The EU and its member states have also stepped up to provide $3 billion. Yet demands on regional governments and those nonprofits —which bear the heaviest financial, political, and human costs of this war—continue to increase.
A Digest of the UNHCR Trip
Bombed Building in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
These past two years, Putin has been trying his best to break Ukrainians’ spirit and test Western resolve.
On the Ground in Ukraine
Led by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, I traveled to Ukraine to see for myself how Ukrainians are faring on the ground.
Odesa, Pearl of the Black Sea
We first stopped in Odesa— “the pearl of the Black sea”—where we met with Governor Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast State Administration, and saw the city’s historic sites standing proudly.
Russia's Efforts to Destroy
We also saw firsthand Russia’s efforts to destroy Odesa and other cultural treasures.
Serhii Beresnev, resident of Kryvyi Rih, Lost His Home in a Missile Strike
Throughout Ukraine, Russia is targeting civilians without warning. Serhii Beresnev, resident of Kryvyi Rih, lost his home in a missile strike this January. “I was at my house when the shelling happened. […] I tried to hide in the restroom and one of the doors hurt my leg. I was injured. It’s a miracle that I am alive.”
Natalia Motailo Is Resolved to Rebuild Her Home
Fellow resident Natalia Motailo is resolved to rebuild her home. “I lived at this house almost all my life. We repaired it a bit with my husband right before the war. […] The only thing we want is peace, and the house we will rebuild, that’s for sure. This is my home, it was the home of my grandmother.”
Governor Oleskandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast State Administration
Traveling east, our delegation spoke with Governor Oleskandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast State Administration. In the face of a prolonged conflict, he remained optimistic: “Kherson is a strong region. Our people are unbreakable, so we will get through this.”
Protecting Children While They Learn
I was struck by Ukrainians’ resourcefulness in adapting to life along the front lines. In Kharkiv, I visited a school sheltered within a metro station—keeping children safe while they learned. Above is a drawing from one of the students.
Memorial in Bucha
I was also moved by the grave human cost of this war. This memorial in Bucha honors over 500 civilians killed in the war’s early days… Ukrainians who can no longer speak for themselves continue to speak volumes.
Dedicated UNHCR Team Members
I’m impressed by the dedication of the UNHCR team and its local partners, who work each and every day to ensure refugees and internally displaced Ukrainians get the support that they need.
Tired of War, But Not Exhausted
This was a frequent refrain I heard on the ground. Ukrainians may be “tired” of the war—but they are certainly “not exhausted.”
Photo Gallery
Ukrainians are following the debates in Washington, DC, as though their freedom depended on the outcome—as is Putin.
Amb. Mark A. Green, President & CEO, Wilson Center