Events
-
2022 yearLife of Saltivians in Occupation
"In dark times, you can see bright people the best" © Erich Maria Remarque.
Read more
This saying has become especially relevant during the war. Before the war, our community was disjointed and inactive. Everyone lived their own lives, and the authorities seemed completely indifferent. Rare initiatives were met with indifference. Life flowed slowly in the picturesque village with its forests, fields, and river.
But on February 24, 2022, everything changed. The village froze in shock from explosions, terrified children, and despair. The war we thought was impossible became our reality.
Imagine your home. A quiet morning, a cozy family atmosphere, and then – explosions, windows shattering, the house shaking. The only thought – what about the children? And then military equipment drives past your windows, and your homes are taken over by new authorities. Neighbors are being shot. The feeling of helplessness and fear because no help can be found. We didn’t believe it either, but that’s how it was.
Our Old Saltiv was surrounded and then occupied. The first week we only flinched from explosions and gunfire. We watched as Russian planes destroyed Kharkiv, our city. People reacted differently: some tried to evacuate their families, some stocked up on food, and some simply couldn’t believe what was happening.
From the first days of the war, we were deprived of electricity, water, food and medicine supplies. There was no communication. This was part of the Russian occupiers' tactic to intimidate the population. On February 24, 2022, people gathered near the village council, but it was empty. No one tried to take action.
Ordinary people – electricians, entrepreneurs, farmers, housewives, teachers – began to act. They organized patrols, brought bread and medicine across the front line under fire. Later, Russian rockets destroyed the bakery.
When Russian troops entered the village, it felt like a dream. Locals were forced to wear white armbands, trenches were dug, and checkpoints were set up. Attempts to leave were searched, men were checked for tattoos, phones were thoroughly inspected. This limited the number of photos from the occupied areas. People erased memories on their smartphones because even a suspicious photo could lead to detention. Children were asked if they loved Ukraine. Many people didn’t dare to leave due to the danger on the road or during checks.
On the day the occupiers entered Old Saltiv, we ceased our activities, anticipating that the Russians might try to force us to cooperate.
Watch the video on our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/EmM-5SRopUI?si=RdYfGWDnhwLd31g5 -
2022 yearLiberation of the Saltiv Community
On April 30, 2022, the right-bank part of the Saltiv community was liberated, including the towns of Old Saltiv, Molodova, and Shestakovo.
Read more
Soon after, the occupiers were pushed back to Rubizhne and Upper Saltiv, as they were retreating and offered little resistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, from May 1 to May 3, fierce battles resumed. The Russian-fascist invaders, stationed on the left bank, relentlessly shelled Old Saltiv. About 80% of the village’s buildings were destroyed, and the gas, electricity, and water supply systems were ruined. (See the page "Destructive Consequences of the Russian Aggression")
On September 11, 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reached the state border line. The Saltiv community was completely liberated from the occupiers, and people began to return from evacuation sites.
Part of our team also returned to the village. In the House of Culture, and later in one of the surviving stores, we set up a humanitarian hub – the Saltiv Volunteer Center (see the page Projects - Volunteer Center).
At that time, our efforts were focused on identifying the needs of residents and finding resources to provide the necessary means of existence.
And, of course, we awaited, believed in, and strived for VICTORY! -
2022 yearDestructive Consequences of Russian Aggression
On May 1, Old Saltiv was completely liberated by the Ukrainian army, but half of our community still remained on the left side of the reservoir under the control of the occupiers.
Read more
Russian artillery had entrenched itself on the reservoir’s bank, directly opposite Old Saltiv, and for 4 months relentlessly and brutally destroyed the village. Everything we had built and lived for – housing, infrastructure, gardens and fields, cemeteries, the church – there was no place that the Russians did not target. The frontline now ran right through us. But there were more chances to get to the city alive, and people were fleeing in large numbers.
Of the more than 4,000 residents at the time, only about 40 people remained in the village. Most refugees did not travel far – they sought shelter in Kharkiv, hoping to return home as soon as possible. During this time, we focused on helping people who fled under fire, who had left – or in some cases completely lost – all their property. We wrote, asked, searched, found, delivered to Kharkiv, and sent food, hygiene products and diapers, clothing, and blankets to Saltiv residents.
We were not the only ones working. A team of brave Saltiv residents evacuated people from Saltiv and delivered drinking water, food, chargers, and fuel under fire. Other Saltiv residents did not form teams but worked individually for neighbors, relatives, and some joined Kharkiv volunteer teams.
Four months of systematic destruction of the village by the Russians… We withstood. And this is the merit EXCLUSIVELY of ordinary residents. We received no assistance from the authorities at that time. Because there were no authorities.
In September, the Ukrainian army pushed the invaders back to their borders. As soon as the explosions ceased in the village, people began to return en masse to their destroyed homes and try to preserve from rain, wind, and snow what the Russian army had not destroyed.
Now, the focus for volunteers, activists, and our public organization is on restoring the village and helping people here, in Saltiv and other villages of the community. Unfortunately, so far, the talk has been only about repairing buildings that can be fixed. People whose homes and property have been completely destroyed currently have no assistance.
We are seeking help everywhere! New caring individuals and organizations are joining the restoration. But Russia does not calm down, and new cities and villages are being destroyed, people are dying, infrastructure is being destroyed. And they too need help!
We understand this because we are in the same state. So we call on everyone who reads this. Do not be indifferent! Help as you can. None of us expected, invited, or wanted war. So help stop it while it hasn’t gone further and restore our Ukraine, our picturesque Old Saltiv.
And no matter what anyone says,
evil will perish, and truth will triumph!
— Lina Kostenko,
Ukrainian poetess. -
2021 yearCleanliness Auction
The public organization "Good Deeds" is delighted to participate in the interesting events of our colleagues. The "Cleanliness Auction" idea was initiated by Maksym Telezhny, a resident of Vovchansk, and realized by the active residents of the village of Khotimlya.
Read more
After the cleanup event, an auction was held where adults, either live or in person, had the opportunity to support the children's efforts in useful activities by "purchasing" bags of collected garbage.
As a result of the auction, 3,200 UAH was raised for sports equipment for the Khotimlya sports club, and the same amount was raised to support the three-year-old son of our friend, who was undergoing treatment for leukemia.
We hope that our organization, "Good Deeds," will embrace this useful idea, and such engaging and beneficial auctions will become a tradition in the Saltivska community.
