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‘The most vulnerable’ As the war rages on, Ukrainian volunteers bring holiday gifts to children living on the front lines

Source: Meduza

On December 6, Ukraine celebrates St. Nicholas Day. For over a decade, volunteers from the NGO Ukrainian Frontiers have marked this day by traveling to communities heavily affected by the war, delivering gifts to children as part of their St. Nicholas’ Reindeers initiative, reports the Associated Press. Ahead of the holiday, children write letters that blend the horrors of war with wishes echoing the dreams of kids worldwide. “My father is in captivity, and I live with my mother and brother,” one child writes, before requesting a ball to support his budding soccer career. “Children are those who have no choice whatsoever. No one asks them whether they want to stay or leave,” says project psychologist Kateryna Shutalova. “What happens to them is never their choice. And this makes them the most vulnerable.”

Nine-year-old Alina Soboleva witnessed the deaths of her mother and grandmother during a shelling attack. Now living with her other grandmother in Izyum, Alina asked for two pet mice as a gift. In this photo, taken on December 6, she is pictured with her cat, Murchik.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Volunteers from Ukrainian Frontiers with gifts for children in Izyum. December 6, 2024.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
A children’s holiday celebration organized in Izyum by volunteers. December 6, 2024.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Inna Achkasova, a project manager at Ukrainian Frontiers, at the holiday celebration in Izyum on December 6, 2024. “Some children wrote in their letters that they want their childhood back,” she told the AP, adding that the volunteers aim to make every child feel “seen, heard, and loved.”
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Children enjoying the holiday celebration in Izyum. December 6, 2024.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
A girl crawls though an improvised tunnel at the children’s holiday celebration organized by the St. Nicholas’ Reindeers project. December 6, 2024.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Young Izyum residents and Ukrainian Frontiers volunteers at the holiday celebration. December 6, 2024.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
A letter to St. Nicholas from Marko Soroka, an 11-year-old resident of Izyum: “Dear St. Nicholas! My name is Marko Soroka, and I’m 11 years old. I love playing with Lego and drawing. My mom says that I’m a good boy. My wish is for my father to return from Russian captivity. All the children waiting for their parents to be freed dream of receiving such a gift. I wish all people health and peace.” December 6, 2024.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
Masha (12), Tymofiy (12), and Illia (6) walking home with gifts from the celebration organized by volunteers in Izyum. December 6, 2024.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP / Scanpix / LETA
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