Volunteer Viktor Zinchenko from Kryvyi Rih, who, along with his team from the NGO "Ternovskoye Yedinstvo," actively assists the Defense Forces, shared with "Vidomo" about the daily life of volunteers and the challenges they face in their work.
– How has volunteering changed over the past three years? Has trust in people been lost, and what do you feel?
- Unfortunately, some trust has been lost. This is due to numerous media reports of unscrupulous volunteers involved in scandals. As a result, people have become more cautious towards volunteers in general. However, there are those who operate transparently and continue to inspire confidence. For instance, in our team, we strive to work as openly as possible — from the moment we receive funds to detailed photo reports. People see how their donations are utilized, which helps maintain trust.
Regarding changes over the past three years: the demands have significantly increased, and volunteering has become more challenging. Our team includes individuals who have dedicated their lives to volunteering, but now they are being sought by military enlistment offices. We understand that if volunteers are mobilized, who will organize the delivery of pickups, Starlinks, or electronic warfare equipment? Additionally, societal fatigue has grown. People trust fundraising efforts less, and many have lost resources or the financial ability to help. In the early days of the war, for example, fundraising for bulletproof vests was very quick, but now it takes much longer. Just video appeals from soldiers are no longer sufficient to motivate people to donate.
– How have the needs of our soldiers changed during this time? Was it difficult to adapt to these changes?
– The needs of the military have changed dramatically over the past three years. Initially, they lacked the essentials: uniforms, footwear, and food. I remember how at the beginning of the war, guys were standing in sports suits with rifles because military gear was simply unavailable. Food was also a problem – often, the rations were expired or unfit for consumption. Later, the requests began to shift: they needed clothing, bulletproof vests, and plates. Eventually, the need for technical supplies arose: generators, Starlinks, and Ecoflows. Currently, key needs include drones, electronic warfare systems, pickups, and thermal imagers. Adapting to these changes has not been easy. For example, thermal imagers are a vital tool for the military, but due to constant use, they are often lost during shelling. With each phase of the war, the requests become more complex, but we strive to respond to them.
– What challenges did you face at the beginning of your volunteer activities?
- The hardest part at the beginning was uniting the team and directing efforts in the right direction. We were engaged in restoring and strengthening the territorial integrity of the area, setting up bomb shelters, cleaning and restoring them, and building checkpoints. One of the most interesting challenges was reinforcing the district hospital — we filled about 20,000 sandbags. We built checkpoints both for the military and on our own initiative. This was physically exhausting. When our forces liberated Kherson, the checkpoints we built were removed by the state. Now, under the new frontline conditions, many ask: "Why were they removed then?"
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- Do you encounter resistance, misunderstanding, or opposition from government bodies or commanders?
– Sometimes, we call the military to ask what they need and offer assistance. They are willing to accept it, but after a while, they call back and say that the commander has forbidden them to request anything because "everything is available." This sounds strange, as the real needs are obvious. There is bureaucracy: everything must be transferred through acceptance acts, but often commanders or responsible individuals refuse to process the documents. Even when the guys need a vehicle for evacuation, we are ready to provide it, but due to a reluctance to take responsibility, it doesn’t happen. Throughout the war, we often hear the phrase "We have everything," but the reality is different: the supply is far from complete, and bureaucratic obstacles only complicate assistance.
– How do you determine whom to help? Do you work based on requests or make decisions independently?
- We cannot help everyone, no matter how disappointing that may be. We make decisions about assistance independently, but we adhere to a certain queue and logic. For example, when we travel through Kharkiv to Donetsk region, we try to visit as many units along the route as possible. Unfortunately, sometimes we cannot reach everyone we planned. Occasionally, we transport humanitarian aid, and the guys are called for an urgent mission, so we pass this aid on to others. Once on the ground in Donetsk region, we look for additional opportunities to help those in need. We always strive to act quickly and as effectively as possible.
- Tell us about your first trip. Were you scared?
– Our first trip was to the Kherson direction when the enemy was already approaching Kryvyi Rih. We realized we needed to act and set off as a large team to assist the military. At that time, we provided not only humanitarian support but also physical labor: digging trenches, building bunkers, and reinforcing positions. I was only 22 years old and became the youngest chairman of an organization in Ukraine. Our team was also about the same age. We all worked together, united by a common goal. It was because of this unity and support that we named ourselves "Ternovskoye Yedinstvo." There was almost no fear, even though the enemy was close, rockets flew overhead, and explosions were continuously heard. The youth rejoiced when the air defense shot down enemy missiles. But I always monitored safety and ordered everyone to quickly hide in the trench. There were moments when enemy columns moved in our direction, and we retreated 400 meters back. Our soldiers picked up machine guns, preparing for battle, but fortunately, the enemy changed direction.
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- Share one of your memorable trips.
– There have been many trips, but some are particularly memorable. One of them was in the Donetsk region. We arrived at the guys on "zero," and Energodar was already visible before us. We delivered two ambulances to them and stayed overnight. This was my first time in a bunker. We arrived late in the evening, and it was dark. When I stepped outside in the morning, I saw the surroundings: the area had been shelled. I still don’t understand how we got there. When the guys asked what road we took, and we answered, they said, "You definitely shouldn’t have gone that way; it’s a heavily shelled area. There are often casualties there." Another memorable trip was to the Avdiivka direction. We were so close to the enemy that we woke up to the sound of machine-gun fire. We slept in a house, and in the morning, when we went out, we talked to the soldiers and suddenly saw our tank firing through the yard. At first, I didn’t even understand what was happening. Explosions and artillery fire were constant. These moments remain in my memory as a reminder of the realities of war and the importance of every bit of help.
- Have you experienced situations under shelling? How did you act?
– Yes, there have been quite a few such situations. We often hear explosions, but mostly these are our artillery firing, rather than incoming shells from the occupiers. However, once, when I stayed overnight with the military in Donbas, we were shelled. Waking up, we went outside and heard the enemy firing at us: shells were flying overhead, and explosions were occurring just a few houses away. Of course, we went down to the bomb shelter, but we gradually got used to it. In the house where we stayed, the powerful explosions shook the chandelier, and the walls hummed.
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- Did you assist law enforcement during the curfew in Kryvyi Rih? What do you think about the methods of tying thieves to poles?
– Yes, we actively helped the police, especially in the early days of the war. Our volunteers patrolled the area alongside law enforcement, set up mobile checkpoints, and interacted with the National Guard. We had access to the district's cameras, so we could monitor the situation and report suspicious individuals. For instance, there were cases when we caught sabotage and reconnaissance groups – people who were hiding in fields with binoculars, radios, and grenades. We handed them over to the police.
Regarding tying thieves to poles, such cases occurred, although this initiative came from concerned residents, not our organization. Personally, I support this method, as in the early days of the war, the police could not always respond quickly due to the complexity of bureaucratic procedures. For example, a person who fraudulently collected money for the burial of a hero and spent it on drugs was tied to a pole until the police arrived. As a result, he was held accountable, and this situation compelled him to change his life for the better. Although such methods are controversial, in critical conditions, they sometimes proved effective in curbing theft and looting.
– What do you