Volodymyr and Olena
The common history of the Legion began with the first days of the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
We took the children from the capital to a safe distance from their grandparents. And we asked ourselves the question: what can we do, feeling powerless against the burning terror in Ukraine? He is a manager in an IT company, she is a scientist-lecturer in a prolonged decree. Opportunities include evacuation to the west, work and the pain of absorbing news in anticipation. But we just couldn't wait.
26.02.2022 , Kyiv. 36 hours of curfew lockdown, paralyzed supply sector and calls for help from those in despair are ahead. All hesitations are left behind.
Relatives, friends and future legionnaires
Water, bread, baby formula, diapers, stew, cereals moved from the shelves of shops and pharmacies of the Cherkasy district center to the family SUV. And here, on the third day of the war, a brother and his family join and our legion grows.
The next, fourth day, we overcame many checkpoints and inspections on the way to the capital. How did we get to the city?
In the deserted Kyiv we are met by a local operative with a friend, an acquaintance and already a legionnaire. Men with a keen sense of responsibility and brave humanity are just what you need. In the afternoon our first load with tears of joy was received by the staff of the capital's Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology (IPAG), thanks to them. There was still noon. By the time we returned from the hospital, our legionnaires had already bought blankets, warm clothes, water, food and lanterns at the request of one of the capital's terrorists. So in the evening we came to Kyiv again and brought the necessary.
We were greeted by a set of machine guns, forced distrust of the military at the posts, the looming silence of Kyiv, which was permeated by distant explosions. Yet it is nothing, compared to the joy, gratitude and feeling of closed important task, which was received in return
Foreign friends and a working community
This difficult fourth day, with all the adrenaline and exercise, with smartphones burning with tension, gave us a clear understanding: we are the Legion of Protection. We must fight in the new reality.
Yes, every day legionnaires became more and more. Sometimes it was even possible to fix it in a geometric progression.
These were and are the military, doctors and other guards with whom they have developed a common trust. As well as friends, colleagues, companies and the foreign community, which helped with their own resources and funds. Some of our foreign comrades-legionaries are already fighting in the international battalions of Ukraine.
Beads with food , medicine, warm clothes, military ammunition, sleeping bags, children's goods, fuel for the military, hospitals, shelters and families were formed and accompanied on a daily basis in Kyiv. On the way back we took people and animals with us. Subsequently, cargoes were formed abroad: in the United States, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Slovakia, Croatia. From there they went to Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolayiv, Chernihiv, to the East.
Cars, buses, wagons. Chains of online assistants, procurement, logistics, interactions with other volunteers and coordination with the military. Thousands of kilometers and hundreds of good deeds on demand - have become this very new routine.
Public organization
So we spent more than two months in the daily struggle of the Legion, balancing priorities and changing the focus according to requests. And we collected a massive bag of checks and bills and hundreds of photos. We received proposals to create memoranda of cooperation and other projects and, finally, logically decided to create a legal entity.
Now we are officially the NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION "INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" LEGION OF PROTECTION "- a time-tested mechanism.
Our statute
At present, we are working for victory and spending all our resources on requests from the front lines. But we dream of having enough resources for more! For example, for 10 demining robots or a housing construction project for displaced persons. Therefore, we consider it our mission to involve as many professionals interested in rebuilding our country as possible. Meanwhile, we remain ordinary people who share responsibility for the future and work in common interests. Join us!
