A Life Changed by War

Rostislav Filippenko, a 31-year-old Ukrainian-Spanish mathematician, never expected to find himself in the middle of a war. Having lived in Madrid since childhood, he returned to Kharkiv, Ukraine, in January 2022 to work on his master's thesis, planning to stay until July.

But in February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine—and everything changed.

Despite having Spanish citizenship, which could have allowed him to escape, Rostislav made the choice to stay.

"I've spent my whole life saying that I love Kharkiv and its people. I couldn't leave. I wouldn’t have been able to look at myself in the mirror," he explained.

Choosing Humanitarian Aid Over Escape

As bombs fell on Kharkiv, one of the hardest-hit cities in Ukraine, thousands of civilians fled. But Rostislav stayed behind, determined to help in any way he could.

While he wasn’t a soldier, he knew he could contribute by coordinating humanitarian aid efforts. The city faced:

• A critical shortage of medical supplies as hospitals struggled to treat an increasing number of wounded civilians.
• Overwhelmed emergency services, with ambulances and clinics unable to keep up with demand.
• Civilians trapped under bombardment, with many unable to access food, water, or basic medical care.

Determined to make a difference, he organized trips to deliver critical medical supplies to hospitals, working alongside humanitarian organizations and volunteers.

Coordinating Medical Relief in Kharkiv

Rostislav’s efforts focused on:

• Gathering and distributing essential medical supplies to hospitals and emergency responders.
• Partnering with humanitarian networks to maximize the impact of donations and aid.
• Ensuring life-saving medications reach those in urgent need, particularly civilians caught in war zones.

His work became critical to sustaining local hospitals under siege, showing how one person’s decision to stay could impact an entire city in crisis.

Why I Chose to Stay in Kharkiv

"I would have been very angry not to have contributed my grain of sand to the victory when we win."

For Rostislav, staying in Kharkiv was not about heroism—it was about responsibility. He had the chance to leave, but he also had the chance to help. He chose the latter.

Even as bombs continue to fall, he remains dedicated to supporting his city.

How You Can Help Ukraine’s Humanitarian Effort

As Kharkiv continues to suffer under Russian attacks, humanitarian aid is more important than ever. If you want to support relief efforts, here’s how:

• Donate to organizations providing emergency medical supplies and aid.
• Share verified information about the situation in Kharkiv.
• Support grassroots humanitarian efforts assisting civilians in Ukraine.

Even from a distance, every action counts in helping those on the ground survive and rebuild.

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This article is a translated and adapted version of a report originally published by La Razón in Spanish. You can read the original version here: La Razón Original Article

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