Events are fast changing on the Ukrainian front line. In short their incursion into Kursk region has added 1000 square kilometres to Ukraine. It may be a raid rather than any attempt to annexe territory but it is notheless exciting and high risk. For the moment it has boosted Ukrainian morale and shifted the political dial. Back home our news is substantial but not headline news. We have become a registered charity with trustees. We can fundraise with the best of them and we have you all to thank for that. Our turnover in 2022 was more than £10,000, and in 2023 approx £8,500. Most of your funds have gone to our community in Ciudei who continue to supply the civilians caught in an ever changing and apparently expanding front line.
As you know we lost our main activist in Romania last year when Dana tragically died of cancer in May 2023.
‘Without Dana there would have been no Ukraine Chain. It was her language skills, energy and organising ability and her formidable set of contacts that made it possible for us to identify the refugee community in Ciudei and to foster the relationship’
Following her death we have not quite been in limbo in Romania but without a personal fixer. We have sent funds to ‘Adi’, Adrian Sherban, an English speaker who is helping the priest in Ciudei. Adi has become our new point of contact. With your help, James is going out to travel to the front line with Adi in September and this blog is primarily about how you can help raise funds for this important trip.
James flies to Cluj in Northern Romania, is picked up in a van by Adi and then the two of them will drive 900 miles with a van full of food and basic medical supplies to Kostyantynivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region where a supermarket was blown up on 9th August. It is early August’s ‘front line’.
James’ uniform will be an ancient black cassock handed down from a former minister in the Scottish Borders circa 1950’s with a flak jacket over the top. I suggested trousers under the cassock and James agreed to socks. I have no doubt it will be stylish and hopefully will keep him safe. It’s easy enough to get insurance for a cancelled Ryanair flight but not so straightforward to insure against an 1800 mile roun trip into Ukraine. We wish them safe travels.
I cannot think of a quicker and more direct way to get to know our partners on the ground in Ukraine even if the obvious risk is beyond most insurance brokers.
The cost of the trip is approx £500 and then we will be able to see what further help we can give so whatever you can donate will be much appreciated.
To donate either use the link at the top of the home page on our website www.ukrainechain.org or send direct to our bank account
Ukraine Chain Ltd
S/C 83-91-55
A/~C No. 11020358
All Best Wishes from
James, Jane, Caroline and Chris.
James you all know - Rev Dr. James Mather who spent 10+ years helping orphanages in Romania and was in a previous life Chairman of REDR UK the primary training organisation which provides the skills to create emergency shelter and stay safe ‘in the field’.
Caroline Aldridge is Chair of the Kidmore End Parish Council where I sit from time to time
Chris Thring is our new Head of Finance and no stranger to risk himself as the man in charge of mountain rescue in the Mendips. He takes over from Paul Isgar who generously gave his time for the first two years to ‘get us started’ and worked out how to get monies to Ukraine. Well done Paul and many thanks for all your support.
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