In January and February, East SOS Held 548 Evacuation Awareness Meetings in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Regions
These meetings help residents of frontline communities make informed and timely decisions about evacuation.
The East SOS Charity Foundation continues its outreach to elderly people, people with disabilities, and families with children in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The team works directly with communities to develop individual evacuation plans, explain realistic departure options, provide psychological support, and offer legal and social consultations.
Between January 12 and February 28, 548 people were reached through these visits. For some, these conversations became the first step toward evacuation – they agreed to leave and were later accompanied by the team to safer locations.
In Dnipropetrovsk region, meetings were held in the Mykolaivka, Vasylkivka, Petropavlivka, Raivka, and Dubovykivka territorial communities. In Zaporizhzhia region, the teams traveled to the Mykhailivka, Novomykolaivka, Mykhailo-Lukashove, Pavlivka, Vilniansk, and Novooleksandrivka territorial communities. The team also began informing residents of Donetsk region, starting with a visit to the Kramatorsk territorial community.
In frontline areas, the decision to evacuate is rarely immediate. It often comes with doubts, a sense of responsibility for one’s home and loved ones, and uncertainty about the future. Face-to-face meetings help answer questions, clarify next steps, and provide a sense of support. This is where the journey to safety begins.
Read more stories below:
- Certainty dispels doubts
Seventy-five-year-old Hanna has spent her entire life in Debaltseve, Dnipropetrovsk region. Although her children had already relocated to a safer area, she hesitated for a long time before deciding to leave her home.
During a community meeting, Hanna asked detailed questions about the evacuation route and whether the team could accompany her directly to her new place of residence. It was important for her to understand that the journey would be well-organized and safe.
A few days later, she made her decision. The East SOS team evacuated Hanna from her home and accompanied her to her family. Today, she is with her relatives, gradually adjusting to her new surroundings, while holding on to hope that one day she will be able to return home.
- Evacuation to save a child’s life
Natalia, together with her mother Liudmyla and her daughter Mariia, stayed in the Dubovyky territorial community for as long as they could. Leaving was not an easy decision – they did not want to abandon their household and the life they had built there.
During the meeting, the family learned about the evacuation procedure and the support available after relocation. Ultimately, they made their decision with their child’s safety as their highest priority. The East SOS team evacuated the family, accompanied them to a transit center, and later transported them to a rented apartment, assisting with the relocation of their belongings.
“How are we supposed to live in the city when all we want is to return to the village?” Liudmyla’s mother said quietly upon arrival.
It is a difficult period for the family, but they are now safe and gradually adjusting to their new environment. They can reach out to the East SOS regional team in Dnipro for support or receive consultations online whenever needed.
- Rescue and care for every life
Nadiia, a woman with a disability, had been living in the village of Chaplyne. After the loss of her mother, she found herself alone and unsure where to seek help.
During a community meeting, the East SOS team informed her about the possibility of evacuation and further support. Although she felt anxious, she agreed.
When the evacuation crew returned, Nadiia recognized the foundation’s specialists and felt reassured seeing familiar faces.
She is now staying at the Social Adaptation Center for People with Disabilities run by the NGO Ocean of Good. The next steps include renewing her documents and arranging her transfer to a residential care facility, where she will receive ongoing support and care.
If you or your loved ones live in communities in the Dnipropetrovsk or Zaporizhzhia regions where evacuation has been announced but still have doubts about leaving, call our hotline – our team will help you prepare and organize your evacuation.
The East SOS Charity Foundation provides free door-to-door evacuation. We assist people with limited mobility, including families with children, people with disabilities, elderly people, and pet owners. Our team accompanies evacuees in finding temporary accommodation, arranges placement in residential care facilities with continuous supervision when needed, or helps them reunite with their relatives.
We also provide consultations via messengers:
Viber: +38 099 710 48 72
Telegram: +38 096 108 60 48
Activities in the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions are implemented as part of the project “Support for War Victims from Vulnerable Groups and Residents of Remote Areas of Ukraine”, carried out by East SOS with the financial support of the European Union.
In the Zaporizhzhia region, activities are implemented within the project “Protection and Necessary Psychosocial Support for War Victims Living in Frontline Areas”, supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.
Recently, East SOS and Ukrzaliznytsia have rescued 25 more people from the frontline.
