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Olga has continued to provide email updates. She lives in eastern Ukraine. In mid-April no fierce battles were around her. She told me the sirens were less often as Russia concentrated on other areas.

“I feel kind of weird because we have regions that suffered way more than we have – mass graves, people tortured and killed house to house, women and children raped, often by groups, animals tortured… .

“… children or parents missing and probably never will be found.

“In Kharkiv region in the city of Izum there’s a mass grave with over 445 civilians.”

Olga is referring to the invasion of Izyum, a major transportation hub in eastern Ukraine – 600 miles from her.

The BBC reported that after Ukraine liberated Izyum from Russian forces, an exhumation took place that found over 400 corpses, many women and children, some tortured. The Regional Prosecutor said there was no doubt that war crimes had been committed. “Some of them were killed, some were tortured, some were killed because of Russian Federation air and artillery strikes.”

Olga said she is having “survivor’s guilt,” in addition to rescuing the many abandoned or bombed animals while watching inflation add to everyone’s misery. Olga is no longer working due to the war.

We will continue to hear from Olga from time to time and will share with you. If you would like to help, contact Jan Paul at 206-898-2312.

Jan had prepared a dinner/fundraiser for her a couple months ago. This is Olga’s response after receiving funds.

“Dear All, my name is Olga, I’m Jan’s friend from Ukraine.

“We are going through such a period at a time, that no one would have guessed in the nearest past anything even close to this is possible… .

“This event has thrown us back in time now for decades. When I look at Ukraine the way it was before war - it gives me heart aches, since it was such a unique country. It was a mix of best experiences from different European cities... We were getting investments from all over the world. We did not need visas to travel to Europe, so you could easily spend weekends in Paris or Vienna, or few days at the seaside in Italy. Life was good. Employment became so much better with so many foreign countries opening offices, workspaces, offering paid working. Great cuisines from all over the world, beautiful nature. Business was growing around like crazy.

“It all changed dramatically. We are now isolated from the rest of the world each day reading obituaries in our Facebook newsfeed. Non stop … .

“In the middle of this life when I found out there is a group of Jan’s friends that care so much about people suffering in different country, that they are willing to help, to support and the fundraiser dinner is being planned to implement these ideas I was just so amazed. So were my parents. I mean we all feel bad for people that are in trouble, or in danger, or became victims of certain circumstances, it’s all natural feelings, but it is huge difference to feel bad for someone and actually take actions to change something for these people. It takes, time, effort, planning, and intension. I was truly shocked. It’s hard to believe in something good existing still in this world after what we have seen here.

“It just brings tears when I’m thinking of it and realize what an amazing people you are. I want you all to know that you made a difference in this war for us, not only financially but mentally. Realizing that there are such a great people gives me hope.

“I want to also thank you on behalf of my parents, they could not believe it. They were just speechless, shocked.

“God bless you and let the joy be with you and all your families!”