A City Under Siege

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, has been relentlessly bombarded by Russian forces, leading to widespread devastation and civilian casualties.

"The Russians are relentless—there are dead and wounded everywhere," reports Rostislav, a local volunteer.

With hospitals overwhelmed and medical supplies running low, he takes it upon himself to assess the most urgent needs of Kharkiv’s war-torn medical facilities.

Medical Crisis in Kharkiv’s Hospitals

Upon reaching Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital No. 25, Rostislav witnesses 22 injured civilians arriving, casualties of another round of indiscriminate bombings.

Hospital directors provide him with critical supply lists, including:‍

The situation is just as dire at Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital No. 17 and Emergency Hospital No. 4, where doctors struggle to treat the wounded with limited resources.

How You Can Help Kharkiv’s Hospitals

Recognizing the urgent need for medical aid, Rostislav is calling on the world to donate to Mission Kharkiv—a grassroots initiative providing essential medication, medical equipment, and emergency relief to hospitals under attack.

Despite the chaos and destruction, he remains steadfast:

"I never imagined waking up to the sound of bomb explosions. But I do not regret being here."

Based in Madrid, Rostislav arrived in Kharkiv on January 12 to visit his family. Now, he finds himself trapped in a besieged city, doing everything he can to help.

Life in Kharkiv Under Russian Bombardment

With 1.5 million residents, Kharkiv lies just 30 kilometers from the Russian border. Ukrainian defenders have fiercely resisted enemy advances, but airstrikes continue, targeting civilians, homes, and infrastructure.

"We are in an old Stalin-era building with a bomb shelter in the basement. Families with children have taken refuge here. Still, the sound of bombings never stops."

Civilians killed in the streets, burning vehicles, and collapsing buildings flood social media feeds daily. Yet, life adapts to war.

The Kharkiv Metro, once a bustling transit hub, has turned into a massive bomb shelter, packed with families seeking safety underground.

Despite the destruction, some essential services persist:

"People applauded when they saw garbage trucks working under fire. It was surreal."

Should Civilians Fight or Help?

As civilian defense groups form across Ukraine, many of Rostislav’s friends are eager to join. However, he remains hesitant:

"They don’t give weapons to just anyone—you need identification and training. As a mathematician, I am useless in combat. I’d rather help in other ways."

Armed with only a backpack, he continues to cross Kharkiv, gathering supplies for hospitals and sending urgent messages to the world.

Join the Fight to Save Lives in Kharkiv

👉 Mission Kharkiv is actively working to support hospitals and civilians under siege.‍

📩 Donate today to provide life-saving medical aid and support the people of Kharkiv.