However, regular bus services had already been canceled, so we arranged to meet in Warsaw to determine our travel options. Before leaving on February 24, I participated in a large demonstration in Vilnius. This campaign helped us realize that we were not alone and had not been abandoned.
On our way to Warsaw, our friends from the history faculty, who had already been mobilized, texted us a list of items they needed: body armor, backpacks, ballistic goggles, helmets, gloves, fleece jackets, and more. I thought, “Okay, I’ll gather everything they’ve requested, send it, and then I’ll go.” However, the flood of requests quickly began and hasn’t stopped since. As a result, we established a volunteer hub in Warsaw to raise funds, purchase essentials, and connect with like-minded people.
In the summer of 2022, when donations started to slow down, I began organizing various demonstrations in Vilnius. Lithuanians, the Ukrainian community, and foreigners were – and still are – very active in contributing. However, I started to feel that my role in the war was becoming less significant. Being abroad didn’t seem as critical, especially since much of the ammunition and drones could be acquired from Ukraine.
Джерело: “Don’t cry, just strive”: why people chose to fight for Ukraine