Surrounded by nature, veterans and their families came together for a day of connection and renewal at the fifth Veterans’ Circle Gathering in Kryvyi Rih.

Hosted by the Union of Responsible Citizens and supported by Nova Ukraine, the gathering offered a safe, welcoming space for relaxation and empowerment.

Participants joined:
🔹 Yoga classes led by a veteran instructor
🔹 Darts competitions with a professional league
🔹 Djembe drumming guided by a veteran and psychologist
🔹 Creative workshops for all ages

Natalia lost her only son in the war and felt like nothing mattered anymore. Then, members of a darts league invited her to play. The game and the team became her lifeline, helping her cope with grief. She now encourages others to join such gatherings, saying they truly help people return to normal life.

This event is part of Nova Ukraine’s Bridge Financing project, which supports people affected by war through psychological, legal, and physical rehabilitation.

As Ukraine continues to endure daily terror and loss, community-based support remains vital.

Overnight from October 21 into the early hours of October 22, russia launched one of its largest air attacks in months, striking Ukraine with dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones across Ukraine.

In Kharkiv, a drone hit a kindergarten, killing one person and injuring several others. In Kyiv, six people were killed, including a six-month-old baby and a 12-year-old girl. In Zaporizhzhia, residential areas were damaged, and several people were injured. Across Ukraine, the overnight strikes caused fires, widespread power outages, and water cuts across several neighborhoods as emergency crews searched through the night.

In Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, Nova Stash team partners Ya Vryatovanyy and Happy Kids are working to support affected communities and provide assistance to those impacted by the attack.

The world must not look away. Each attack destroys homes, takes lives, and leaves families in despair.

Thank you to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division for highlighting this milestone!

We deeply appreciate our partners and advocates who continue to keep Ukraine’s story visible and relevant across the United States. Local action like this drives national awareness and lasting impact.

Heart2Heart, a U.S. aid project supporting ordinary Ukrainians, vulnerable groups, and hospitals, began in 2015. Its story started with two Nova Ukraine volunteers, Anna Bietina and Olena Stadnyuk, whose compassion and persistence turned a small idea into a lasting movement. Together with their families, they began collecting medical and humanitarian items in Anna’s yard, including medical consumables, equipment, rehabilitation devices, warm clothing, and hygiene products.

As donations grew, so did the need for more hands. In 2023, Anna’s family and Olena launched “Toloka That Unites” to organize a larger team of volunteers who sort, pack, and ship aid to Ukraine.

In Ukrainian tradition, a toloka is a community gathering where neighbors unite to build homes, work the land, or support one another in times of hardship. In the U.S., this spirit of toloka has taken on a new meaning, bringing people together to ensure Ukrainians overseas receive lifesaving aid on time.

All supplies are distributed through trusted organizations and volunteers across Ukraine, reaching hospitals, stabilization points, and institutions that care for the elderly and families with children who have special needs.

At the end of September 2025, the Toloka team once again gathered to sort, pack, and ship urgently needed supplies to Ukraine. Among the items sent were:
🔷 Medical supplies for hospitals, including bandages, gauze, disposable diapers, and vacuum therapy materials
🔷 More than 1,000 airline blankets for stabilization points
🔷 Crutches and specialized wheelchairs with footrests
🔷 Winter clothing for a nursing home
🔷 Baby food and diapers for families raising children with special needs

For ten years, this dedicated volunteer community has worked tirelessly, proving that every item and every contribution can make a difference.

Many people in Ukraine, especially those from vulnerable populations, cannot evacuate on their own. They wait for help under constant shelling, counting on evacuation teams to bring them to safety.

To support these life-saving efforts, Nova Ukraine, through the Fuel OKKO program, provides fuel for the Road of Life evacuation project. These teams drive directly into areas near the frontlines to bring civilians to safety.

In September alone, the teams covered more than 5,290 miles and responded to 20 evacuation requests, helping families escape the constant shelling of their towns.

Every gallon means another family reaches safety and another life is protected.