It’s been two and a half years since Russia’s war on Ukraine began, and there are still an estimated 3.7 million Ukrainians internally displaced and nearly 6.5 million Ukrainian refugees around the world. For those who’ve stayed behind, Russian air strikes have heavily damaged infrastructure, homes, and other buildings. It’s estimated that at least 210,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including more than 167,000 housing units and hundreds of hospitals and schools. With your help, we’ve been repairing some of these buildings.

Thanks to your clicks, trivia participation, shopping for a cause, and direct donations, we’ve been working with Greater Good Charities and partners including Insulate Ukraine to install more than 1,200 windows in homes, schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. The goal is to provide safe and stable shelter to as many people and pets as possible.

In early July, the main children’s hospital in Kyiv was hit with a missile strike as part of a series of attacks that killed at least 41 civilians, including children. It was reported that windows and panels were destroyed at the main hospital, children were evacuated, and maternity centers and children’s nurseries were also damaged. 

Eleven people were also killed, while 68 were wounded, in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Among the sites hit was the University Hospital at Dnipropetrovsk State Medical University in Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. In response, GreaterGood worked with Greater Good Charities to support Insulate Ukraine as it installed windows at the hospital.

Yevhen Pilin is the medical director there. He says the hospital has been hit more than once, including one strike in the dead of winter that destroyed their maternity department. They worked to repair windows as quickly as they could, after transferring patients to other facilities. On July 3, though, they were hit again, and the impact destroyed more than 250 windows, including those that had been recently replaced.

Insulate Ukraine came five days later to repair those windows when they were impacted yet again.

Pilin says, “On July 8, as Insulate UA began their work, we received another strike. We were grateful to the workers, who were not afraid to come to us and provide us with assistance. Our hospital has a fighting spirit. Despite these attacks, all the hospital staff remain. Despite the air alarms, everyone works, everyone helps, and everyone is prepared only for victory. When Ukraine wins this terrible war and we rebuild a new Ukraine, we will have the best university hospital."

That fighting spirit even applies to the operating room, where a surgery didn’t stop just because of the July 8 attack. Volodymyr Anatoliyovich, the head of the hospital’s surgery department, was mid-operation when the strike first began, but they couldn’t leave the patient behind.

Anatoliyovich says, “We were mid-surgery when the explosions started. They were coming closer and closer to us, and then suddenly the last explosion was right next to us. Immediately, I sent all the nurses who could leave to the basement. But we couldn’t stop the surgery; the person was under anesthesia. It had to continue. Thank God we were able to finish. And thank God the explosions also stopped.

“The nurses all came back; they were in shock. It was very, very frightening. We were lucky; the surgery was in the farthest operating room from the impact site. It was a room with no windows. Nothing fell or shattered. But in the OR nearby, there were fragments everywhere, dust, and debris. The nurses were all very scared. Some fell to the floor. It was horror.”

Insulate Ukraine got to work quickly afterward, aiming to repair more than 500 shattered windows. The materials they use are not made from ordinary glass, which is more apt to cause injuries in an attack and would take longer to properly replace. However, the new windows still let in light and warmth and provide more safety. They also provide adequate insulation and weatherproofing for colder months.

These windows have also recently been installed in damaged homes in several cities, including Izyum and Nikopol. Nikopol is close to the action and often shelled multiple times a day.

Nikopol resident Maryna and her family were at home during one such attack, and they’ve also benefitted from the new windows.

She told Insulate Ukraine, “During the hit, my children and I were at home. Luckily, we managed to hide in the corridor. Of course, the children were very scared. Maybe we should have left somewhere, but where would we go, and how could we leave our parents? [Insulate Ukraine] windows have been standing for about three months.

“Last month, there were very strong winds, and we thought there would be drafts all over the house... We were very surprised at how well this insulation keeps the cold out. We constantly think of you and are very grateful for the work you do. May God bless you and may you continue to help people."

Fellow Nikopol resident Olga added, “You know, it was strange how the hit happened. The windows in the apartment remained intact, but all the balcony windows were blown out. Unfortunately, the city doesn't help fix balcony windows, so [the Insulate Ukraine] program was the only salvation for us. We live on the fourth floor, so the wind was blowing very hard through the broken windows on the balcony.

“But now, despite the strong wind, your windows hold up, and no wind enters the apartment. We are very grateful for the excellent work you do.”

Stories like this were made possible thanks to your clicks, trivia participation, shopping for a cause, and direct donations. If you’d like to keep supporting organizations like Insulate Ukraine as they help Ukrainians who have stayed behind, click below!