ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine–Where does the money go after credit unions in the U.S. raise funds to help their counterparts in Ukraine? What is life like for those near the front lines of the war with Russia who are responsible for distributing that aid while also trying to stay alive? And what do Ukrainians themselves say about the war and how it might end?
The CU Daily spoke with three people in eastern Ukraine, near territory seized by Russia, who have been involved in distributing aid and support in the region, some of it provided by credit unions in the U.S. and Poland. They shared their experiences, the realities of their lives, what their communities and credit unions most need, and—their determination to settle for nothing less than a “just peace.”
Editor’s Note: All three spoke to the CU Daily several days before ongoing and extensive Russian missile attacks on the Zaporizhzhia region that killed one person and wounded 28, including three children, as of this reporting.
Offering their perspectives—via Microsoft Teams—were:
- Maria Kuznietsova, deputy director for international cooperation at the Municipal Institution City Development Institute of Zaporizhzhia
- Inna Stashchuk, international cooperation manager at the Municipal Institution City Development Institute of Zaporizhzhia
- Dmytro Bychkov, chairman of the Nikopol district council (Bychkov spoke through an interpreter.)
Additional assistance in setting up the meeting was provided by Robert Rusiecki of the National Association of Co-operative Savings and Credit Unions, Poland’s national trade association.
Kuznietsova, Stashchuk and Bychkov live in southeastern Ukraine, close enough to Russian-occupied territory that missile and drone attacks are almost daily. Zaporizhzhia lies on the banks of the Dnieper River and is the administrative center of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
All three have worked with the Via Stella Foundation, created shortly after Russia’s 2022 invasion by Sue Mitchell, CEO of Mitchell Stankovic Associates; Brian Branch, former CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions; and Poland’s trade association. The World Council and the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions have also been active in providing aid to Ukraine’s credit unions and their members, including loan programs. And credit unions in the U.S. that serve the Ukrainian community have also provided ongoing assistance.
Anytime, Day or Night
Kuznietsova, who lives just 30 kilometers from the front lines, said missile attacks can come at any time of day or night, often targeting critical and energy infrastructure.
As she understatedly observed: “It is challenging and hard to live in this sort of situation.”
Despite that, she said people who have remained continue to go about their lives, including working, even as they’ve been forced to make extraordinary adjustments. The city has built underground schools and hospitals in response, she said, adding that missile warnings are frequent, with the longest to date lasting 20 hours and forcing people into shelters for nearly a day.
“We have tried to make the critical infrastructure stronger as best as we can,” Kuznietsova said.
‘Trying for Sense of Normality’
Stashchuk emphasized that life continues. Local and regional authorities, she said, have joined with partner organizations to help “keep a sense of normality as much as you can in this situation.”
“There are many efforts made to help people live as full a life, as normal a life, as possible,” she said, citing municipal services, cafes, local businesses and financial institutions that remain open.
“People believe in this city, believe in these efforts, and they contribute to life today despite all the challenges,” Stashchuk said. “To me, as a person who spends most of her time now in other towns, it’s a remarkable thing.”
Russians ‘Terrorize’ Town
Speaking through a translator, Bychkov agreed the “situation remains difficult, even though the enemy has no chance of conquering or occupying the town of Nikopol.”
Nevertheless, he said the Russians continue to “terrorize” the town, placing military equipment at a local nuclear station, knowing Ukrainians will not fire there, and using nearby fields for training. Nikopol has been shelled almost daily, with 30 to 40 Russian drone attacks each day.
In yet another understatement, Bychkov said the conditions are “preventing people from having a normal life.”
The war has influenced everything, he said, noting it’s difficult to count the current population of a city that once had about 160,000 residents. City services and businesses are suffering, but “city hall and city government is doing its best to make life better for the citizens.”
The Aid Being Received
Asked about aid his city has received, Bychkov said assistance has ranged from psychological support to sports equipment for children. But what is most needed, he added, has been heavy equipment such as cranes to remove debris from bombed buildings.
Kuznietsova said her city also has a list of needs, specifically bicycles and medical equipment, since transportation constantly goes to the front or is destroyed, while medical supplies are prioritized for war casualties. The nonstop attacks, she said, have put great strain on emergency responders.
The Approach of Winter
With winter approaching, Kuznietsova said there is renewed need for generators and supplies to meet the “basic needs” of displaced people. Credit unions have provided steady donations of portable generators.
Asked what single donation would be most valuable, Kuznietsova pointed to transportation, given the loss of cars, buses, trucks and even bicycles.
Transportation is one area where credit union donations have made a major difference. In addition to generators, the Via Stella Foundation has provided a fleet of ambulances—often by buying used vans, converting them into emergency vehicles, and driving them into Ukraine—to replace ambulances sent to the front and frequently targeted by Russian attacks.
What has become of the ambulances credit unions donated?
“They are very much in use,” Kuznietsova said. “We have a lot of older people, people with disabilities, people who live alone, and when they need help these ambulances are really needed.”
Kuznietsova added that the ambulances are “100% used” for transporting patients to hospitals.
Bychkov, meanwhile, stressed that building equipment such as excavators remains critical, but he also agreed there is a huge shortage of ambulances. He thanked the Via Stella Foundation repeatedly for those already provided, which serve Nikopol and nearby villages.
He recounted how a missile recently hit a bus taking people to work, killing 10 and injuring dozens. Ambulances, he said, were able to quickly transport the injured to hospitals, saving lives. They are also used to transfer severely wounded people to larger cities with better facilities.
All three said the best way to help is through charitable foundations such as Via Stella or the World Council.
“We trust each other,” Kuznietsova said of the relationship between Ukrainians and credit union-established foundations.
Where More Attention Is Needed
Bychkov said financial support has been vital but emphasized an overlooked area: children. For those who have not been relocated to safer areas, efforts have included community centers, holiday trips and local sports programs to ease psychological strain.
“It would be great if Ukraine could get some (equipment) that would support children,” Bychkov said.
He noted that donations can be as simple as board games. An interactive board game provided recently, he said, made children “very happy” and improved their quality of life.
Psychological help and counseling for people with disabilities or those who have lost loved ones would also be welcome, he added, to help them “come back to a normal life” and “deal with grief.”
Responding Quickly
Stashchuk said the timeliness of donations is as important as the type. The ability of Via Stella to respond quickly to urgent needs, she said, makes the aid so effective.
“This fast response is a great thing for us,” she said. “It is a great thing for us that Poland is close to Ukraine. They find solutions to deliver us aid even if we don’t know the solutions. It is one-half of the problem to find aid. But then we have to find solutions for going to another country to get this aid. Via Stella helps us with this problem. It has been very beneficial to us.”
Help From Polish Counsel
Rusiecki, of Poland’s credit union trade group, credited Ukraine’s counsel in Poland for making delivery of generators and other assistance possible, calling his support “huge help.”
Financial Services Amid War
In a country where infrastructure and the power grid are frequent targets, what is the state of financial services?
“Despite the war, the Ukrainian financial system continues to work effectively,” Kuznietsova said.
She said she rarely carries cash and uses electronic banking, with apps “very popular” in the country. Most people pay by phone, which is far more common in Europe than in the U.S., and most salaries are paid electronically.
Kuznietsova called the system’s digital services a “strength.”
And, in yet another example of how war conditions can feel normalized, she added: “Even after a two-hour missile attack, everything (in financial services) worked.”
Stashchuk said Ukraine’s financial system also supports widespread charitable fundraising for the army, attack victims and others in need. “These are huge fundraising campaigns, and there are different options from banks that collect these donations and then transfer them where they are needed,” she explained.
Bychkov said banks in Nikopol continue to operate, though some offices have suspended service due to constant shelling. He recalled one Russian drone operator targeting civilians waiting at an ATM.
He also noted that finding accountants has become difficult since so many residents have fled, creating challenges for city council operations.
The End of the War & a Peace Deal
Western media have speculated whether Ukrainians will eventually accept a peace deal even if it means ceding territory. Asked for their views, Kuznietsova said:
“It is a hard question for me. Of course, people are tired. Every Ukrainian wants peace. But peace is not possible without justice. The majority of Ukrainians support the continuation of the fighting. We are fighting for our children and for a just peace. There must be guarantees of security.”
Kuznietsova, whose family is from Crimea—seized by Russia in 2014—said she and other Crimeans remain hopeful of returning. “It’s not just about people. It’s about their past, their present and their future.”
Bychkov shared similar sentiments:
“People are tired. There are very few families that have not been affected by the war. However, the war is about Ukraine’s independence, Ukraine’s destiny. This is what helps people keep fighting. The president of Ukraine has been supporting a consistent idea of what Ukrainians want, which is a fair peace. Ukraine will never agree to an unfair peace; this will mean defeat.”
He expressed hope that international organizations supporting Ukraine will also support the idea of a fair peace with stronger conditions for Ukraine.
Kuznietsova added that support goes beyond money and equipment: “For us, it’s really important to show people what is going on. For us it’s not just about a peace deal, it’s about justice.”
Looking to Partner With U.S. Cities
Stashchuk said she regrets Zaporizhzhia is mentioned internationally mostly for tragic events and that there is often confusion about which areas are occupied versus those under Ukrainian control.
“It is frustrating and depressing. Zaporizhzhia continues to defend itself. It is very important for us to share this information,” she said. “The other thing is, as (Bychkov) said, the help is not just about equipment and vehicles, it is about connections, it is about cooperation. As a city we are open to these connections, to these friendships. If there are interested cities and towns in Poland, in the U.S., who would like to establish some relations and partnerships with Ukrainian cities, it is a very huge help and we try to work with these cities.”
And One More Thing…
Bychkov added that he looks forward to thanking everyone who has provided help to Ukraine.
For those interested in more information:
