Invasion day +56
'... still hoping to plant vegetables in Kharkiv...'
Today's post is given over entirely to a letter from Anna from Kharkiv, now settled in the UK, and an incredible thank you video from Lora, Lina's sister, now safe in Turkey with one grandmother whilst her sister and their other grandmother stay, still refusing to leave, in Kharkiv, together with our reply.
'Meanwhile' will return tomorrow together with the moving story of a lady from the Donbas and another take by our resident cartoonist, SUFT.
The video from Lora is as beautiful as it is tragic, a Ukrainian folk dance performed for us in gratitude, movingly silent with only the wind of the hills blowing in the background...
We cried here...
We dedicate this dance to these amazingly brave sisters, their grandmothers and all Ukrainians wherever they are in these terribly dark days.
With inspiration such as theirs, freedom can never die.
Today's Letters
From Anna, Ukrainian, now in North Yorkshire
Hello Hoggy,
'The Acute Psychosis of Ukraine'
How are you?
Hope your Easter week is going well.
I've just been talking to Lora for more than an hour. She and her grandmother have now moved to Turkey, Lora has tried to find a job there but so far unsuccessfully.
I tried to persuade her to come to the UK for a while because she will at least be able to work and provide for herself and the grandmother.
Lina and another grandmother still hope to be able to plant vegetables for the next season so they refuse to leave Kharkiv.
I've spoken to Lina numerous times asking to reconsider, but it's all useless even considering the fact that Russia started the second massive offensive campaign, this time in the east and Kharkiv is one of the cities which are under attack now.
My parents also refuse to leave Kharkiv and again it's useless to speak to them about leaving, I do it every day but the result is zero every time.
My customer who is a doctor said that such fear of leaving is caused by the stress they went through in the beginning of the war. The doctor said this condition is called 'acute psychosis' and a lot of people are now suffering it. Some are still in disbelief, some are aggressive or depressed, or too prostrated with fear to move somewhere.
I had a meltdown two days ago and just couldn't stop crying because I realised how helpless we all are facing the terror and unprecedented violence of the Russians ruining our homes and killing civilians just for fun.
However, let's switch to some positive news. 'Ina', whose name is Kate now she is safe, arrived yesterday. We picked her up at Leeds airport and took her to her sponsor family. We spent all day with them, I think they get on well. That family has even found a full time job for Kate in the neighbourhood so she can start asap.
I asked Kate to consider your offer of a one day a week job in the Hoggy office and she is going to discuss an option of working 4 days a week if her employer is ok with that. I prepared a New Life Starter kit for Kate with all the stuff a lady might need for the first time (slippers, towels, a hairdryer, some skincare, a hairbrush, clothes for home, adapters to the UK socket.)
I am attaching a video of Lora, she wanted to thank you for the support. It took a while because she is quite a shy girl. She has prepared a dance.
I'm glad to hear that the books have success, that is a fantastic job you have done! I think I can talk to Kate as she will have a week of more or less free time until her Residence permit and work permit are ready and she can also spread the books.
I'm going to send you a story of another lady from Kharkiv. She is originally from Donbas and this is the second time the war has made her flee.
Kind regards,
Anna
(Anna is now settled in the UK but we are protecting her name in her letters as her family are still in Kharkiv. Hoggy.)
Dear Anna,
We cried here at Hoggy when we first saw this video and read your letter. We thought we were cried out now, but no, this letter reminded us of just how acute your suffering is.
We may not have the fear, but we certainly have a sense of anger and of helplessness. But we also have your inspiration, a gift from you all to us, safe in our lives in the UK with our own struggles which are real enough, but seem of a very different order to yours.
We send heartfelt thanks to Lora with gratitude to Turkey that she and her grandmother are safe. We will continue to help them all as much as we can from Hoggy's Fund and also from individual supporters.
Please tell Lina how much we are all thinking of her, her grandmother and your parents and family in Kharkiv. We know how worried you are and we so hope they will be safe.
That they can plant their vegetables this year ...
And we thank you Anna, for all you are doing for Ukraine. You are an ambassador here for your nation and for all the many people you have helped so far. We send you our deepest admiration and gratitude for all you have done and continue to do every day. The hope you are bringing to all your students in Ukraine, students you have taught in bunkers and bedrooms, basements and shelters, is their lifeline and their link to a future that one day will be free of fear and a time when war will not be their daily backdrop.
We salute you.
We let your letter and Lora provide today's message.
We will publish the story from the Donbas tomorrow.
With all our wishes here,
Hoggy
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