By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times
As war has ravaged most of eastern Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of the country in February 2022, residents of the nation have been at the mercy of supporting countries and aid from across the globe as they continue to resist Russian occupation. Nonprofit organizations from around the world have aided Ukrainian soldiers and citizens as they face constant threat from the Russian military. Organizations such as Shield of Freedom not only provide monetary aid, but are also showcasing the better parts of Ukraine by allowing donors the chance to see the real, rustic and beautiful parts of their nation with organized trips to the western part of the country, as Mt. Hood Villages resident, Penny Mock, recently experienced.
“This past 4th of July I met my nephew’s best friend’s wife [Mira Rubin] at a family gathering and she is Ukrainian and President of Shield of Freedom,” Mock said. “Mira began talking to my sister and I about her mission and we told her we wanted to donate money to their cause. Before I knew it she was inviting us to Ukraine to tour the country and witness the beauty that is her homeland,” Mock added.
On October 7th Mock and her sister departed for Ukraine, and experienced Rubin and her guided tour. “Ukraine is very much a European country,” Mock said. “Even during these times of unrest and war, it is not a third world country,” Mock added. While Mock was able to see the beauty and historical landmarks that make up western Ukraine, most of her time there was spent visiting people and groups who are working tirelessly to help those fighting in the front lines against Russia in eastern Ukraine. “The first day of our trip we were in Uzhhorod and we visited a school where we talked to the principal and vice principal,” Mock said. “The principal became very emotional during our conversation while describing an incident involving their students barely escaping a bombing in Kyiv while traveling to obtain travel documents for an upcoming trip to London,” Mock added. Following her trip to the school, Mock and her travel companions also visited a women’s collective where they watched members construct camouflage netting which is used in the frontlines to cover soldiers and their tanks.
While Mock and her travel companions were able to witness the many acts of national pride, protection and humanitarian efforts, they were also able to see the ways Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines thanked their fellow citizens for their aid and support. “We visited a nonprofit that was sending all sorts of supplies to the soldiers in eastern Ukraine and also saw the thank you gifts the soldiers sent back,” Mock said. “They [soldiers] send thank you gifts such as flags badges, teddy bears and empty artillery shells they paint,” Mock added.
Most of Mock’s time spent in western Ukraine was spent witnessing the large-scale efforts made by citizens working to aid their soldiers on the frontlines, touring the beautiful mountain towns of The Carpathian Mountains, and visiting historical landmarks. Stopping to meet and talk with wounded Ukrainian soldiers of war was moving and significant. The most memorable moment of her trip was their last night when the air raid sirens sounded and Mock had to take shelter. “On our last night we went to bed around 11:30pm and shortly after that we awakened to air raid sirens,” Mock said. “We had to change quickly and head to the shelter which was close by in the parking garage of the complex we were staying in. While down there we met 2 young Ukrainian women who had never met Americans before and they were able to track the Russian missiles from an app on their phones. They told us when Ukrainian forces were able to destroy the missiles and when it was safe to head back to our apartment,” Mock added.
Throughout her travels through western Ukraine, even considering the air raid sirens and the possibility of attack from Russian forces, Mock remains convinced that the people, food and culture of Ukraine isn’t much different from that of her beloved home of the Mt. Hood Villages. From the trees, fall temperatures, mushroom cuisines and entertainment, her overall experience in Ukraine was one of gratitude and appreciation. “It was emotional to witness soldier funerals and to meet the many amputees at the hospitals and rehabilitation facilities,” Mock said. “But there are so many similarities between the Ukrainian people and those here at home,” Mock added. “Our wonderful tour guide and friend, Mira, kept saying ‘everything’s better in Ukraine,’ and we really felt that,” Mock added.
For more information on Shield of Freedom and how you can help the people of Ukraine, visit https://shieldoffreedom.org