The village of Moschun is a sleepy little community an hour away from Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. This picturesque village is surrounded by green forests where children used to play, and families would have picnics. Today children are forbidden to play in the woods. Russian landmines lay hidden beneath the soil, waiting for an unsuspecting child to step in the wrong place. Seven-year-old Max is one of those children.
Meeting Max’s Family Amidst Devastation
I met Max and his mother, Valeria, in May 2023. I traveled from our home in L’viv to visit Moschun with our team to see how we could help. The vision for NHUKR is to rebuild war-damaged homes at no cost to the homeowner. Max and his family began building their home section by section before this active little boy was born. Like most Ukrainians, they pay cash to complete each phase of building the house where they can raise a family. Gennady, Valeria, and Max were months away from moving in when the Russian army attacked Moschun en route to Kyiv. Most of the homes here are damaged or destroyed. The residents have no means to pay for repairs. Many live in a house with walls but no roof.
The Battle of Moschun: Honoring the Fallen Heroes
Moschun was on the front line in the battle to protect the capital city and repel the Russian army. I visited the monuments for the brave men who fought and died here on the edge of Moschun. The memorial is filled with photos of these men. Flowers, candles, and banners honoring their heroism and sacrifice adorn the graves of these gone but not forgotten defenders of Moschun. Just beyond the memorial site are the all-too-familiar warning signs. A skull and crossbones warning landmines have not yet been cleared.
A Glimpse into the Struggles and Hopes of a Ukrainian Family
Gennady, Valeria, and Max live with their parents, saving money to pay for each phase of building their dream home. It’s not a large home, but big enough to raise a family. The forest is just across the street, where the kids could run and play. I followed Valeria around the side of her home, where she pointed to the fragment of the GRAD rocket that destroyed the roof. Nearby lay a pile of metal roof material, insulation, and splintered wood that formerly protected their home from the elements.
Ukrainians are Standing Resilient Through Repeated History
Inside, the walls are peppered with cracks and holes from the rocket fragments meant to destroy their home and dreams. The Russian leaders of this war against Ukraine have a terrible memory. This is not the first time Ukraine has been unjustly invaded. The war crimes and suffering inflicted by a heartless enemy are not new to a proud nation and culture; Ukraine has been here before. The dreams and hopes of these peace-loving and humble people will never be destroyed.
Rebuilding Homes and Hope in Moschun
Gennady and Valeria’s home repair is one of four houses we are working on to renew hope for people who have lost so much. There are dozens more in Moschun. The cost to repair Ukraine’s infrastructure is estimated at over 300 billion dollars. That sum seems insurmountable, but with your partnership, we are helping the people of Ukraine, the families of Moschun, recover their dreams—our deepest thanks to all who contribute to help one family at a time in Ukraine.
