Reconstructing a Country of Strong and Indomitable People: Reporting on Dobrobat Week

With an indestructible faith and thirst for Victory, we continue to rebuild the country urgently. No enemy missiles can intimidate and bring to its knees the freedom in which the Ukrainian nation was born. We will rebuild everything that has been destroyed, and we will win! After all, this is the only home we have.

Last week Dobrobat volunteer groups helped five regions of the country. They eliminated the consequences of the Russian occupation and enemy shelling in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Mykolaiv regions. A total of 320 volunteers worked in the locations.

Kyiv’s Dobrobat battalion began urgently restoring damaged roofs in the Demydov residents’ houses. For three days, volunteers repaired the roof of a two-story apartment building. In addition, groups of 10 volunteers repaired the damaged roofs of the affected residents at three other addresses. They also made a trip to Kozarovychi. The volunteers also carried out partial roof repairs. In Hostomel, they finished with the urgent repair of a four-story house. The house was significantly damaged due to the “strike” of enemy artillery shells. Therefore, the volunteers ensured that house residents had their tents. They dismantled tiles damaged by missile fragments, mounted rafters and lath, and covered a membrane. Next, they fixed 130 square meters of metal tiles and completed the roof repair by mounting ridges and gutters.

Our volunteers also cleared debris and tidied up Hostomel, Irpin and Makarov residential areas. In Hostomel, the volunteers dismantled the walls and floor slabs of the second floor of the destroyed house and cleaned it of construction debris. In Irpin, they helped a retired woman collect the remains of dismantled walls and complete the demolition of the rubble of a private house where three families lived. In Makarov, groups of 10 volunteers cleared the house of destruction and tidied up the territory at two addresses.

In Chernihiv Oblast, volunteers tirelessly fix roofs and install windows in the houses of residents of Yahidne. For the fourth month already, Dobrobat has been implementing the urgent restoration of the Ivanivka community in cooperation with the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, which finances the purchase of construction materials. Last week Dobrobat co-founder Rostyslav Smirnov and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. Thus, they documented a common desire to rebuild the country and help Ukrainians whose home was damaged by the war.

For the eighth month in a row, Russian troops have been mercilessly shelling the Kharkiv region, terrorising the population and destroying the city and settlements. But Kharkiv is ironclad, as are its residents – indestructible and brave. Together we stand, helping each other. Volunteers of the Kharkiv branch helped to board up the broken windows with OSB boards in one of the Kharkiv schools, which was significantly destroyed due to hostilities. They also supported the residents of a multi-story building and an older woman who asked Dobrobat for help. Volunteers once again went to the de-occupied Korobochkino. They boarded up the broken windows of local houses with OSB boards and fed the dogs from Balakliia, who were left without owners. Goodness knows no bounds, and pets should also be protected. That’s why our volunteers made porridge and served it to the animals on the street.

In Sumy Oblast, volunteers continue the urgent reconstruction of eight apartments in Trostyanets, where older adults live. In three weeks, we have already finished about 400 square meters of roofing. They mounted the pediment, replaced the rafters and collar beams, arranged roof boarding and covered the roof with new metal tiles. Volunteers from Sumy and Romny construction battalions help repair the roof; local residents also join.

We have the results of urgent restoration in Mykolayiv Oblast as well. Although the fifth branch of Dobrobat started working very recently, our volunteers have already repaired the roof of a multi-story apartment building in Mykolaiv. In four days, they replaced a broken slate with a new one, partially covered the roof with a canopy and mounted roof ridges. In general, the Dobrobat volunteers prepared about 600 square meters of roofing for further work. In the future, contractors will work with the facility.

Our strength is in an unconquerable spirit that motivates and charges us not to stop on the difficult, exhausting path to Victory. Chin up! We need to rebuild a country of strong, brave and happy people. We thank everyone who fights with us on the reconstruction front. But we invite volunteers to the Zaporizhzhia construction battalion, which will soon begin the urgent reconstruction of Zaporizhzhia. They also really need our help.