NIKOPOL, Ukraine–More than four years after Russia invaded Ukraine, after which credit unions moved almost immediately in the U.S. and Poland to provide assistance, an update from the front lines offers insights into just how dangerous and deadly the war remains and how critical the work being done by CUs remains.
As the CU Daily has previously reported, many of the CUs that were in eastern Ukraine and Russian-occupied territories have ceased to exist, but those in the central and western areas of the country continue to exist, even as their memberships have been deeply affected by the war.
From Poland, representatives of the Via Stella Foundation, the joint U.S./Polish initiative created to help Ukrainian credit unions as well as refugees who had fled to Poland, reported that in early April a Russian drone struck a civilian bus killing four persons and wounding sixteen.
The death toll would have been higher but for two armored ambulances provided by credit unions and individuals through Via Stella, the organization said.
Among the biggest donations made by the foundation since its creation by Brian Branch, the former CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions; Sue Mitchell, the CEO of Mitchell Stankovic, and Rafal Matusiak, CEO of Poland’s national CU trade association, has been ambulances. The organization has been purchasing vans, refurbishing them, filling them with medical supplies and driving them into Ukraine for use in many communities where ambulances are scarce, as they are being used in the war effort.
Attacks by the Russians, including on civilian vehicles, has forced a change, however, in the types of vehicles Via Stella has been purchasing to become ambulances. It has now turned to used armored cars, instead.
Report from the Front
Via Stella shared this update from Poland’s credit unions: “Drone attacks have increased in the Nikopol district. Every day from 100 to 150. They attack cars, businesses and people. Terror. 30 injured in a day. There are dead. A lot of wounded people are taking (their) cars. Thank you! Thank you again! The importance of (the ambulances) is incredible!”
Branch also noted that strikes target civilian areas, marketplaces and vehicles, and that violence has intensified this year rather than decreased.
“People rarely go outside unless necessary. Streets are empty,” Branch said in a statement. “People buy their needs via social media rather than in person. Stores deliver by bicycle because the economic cost of a drone exceeds that of a bicycle. Larger gatherings such as municipal meetings or church services are carried out underground. Classes are provided virtually rather than in person.”
The ‘Impact’ Credit Unions Have Had
Branch added that local medical treatment is available for most injuries, but more severe cases are evacuated to safer cities to the West using the ambulances credit unions have provided.
“This is an example of how you have impacted and saved lives during this conflict,” Branch said.
For more information on Via Stella, go here.
The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions has also been active in Ukraine in providing relief to its CUs. For more info, go here.
