In Yurii’s yard there is a swamp with frogs, and only wooden splinters remain of the farm. His home and business of his life was completely destroyed by the water that rushed in from the Kakhovka dam.

It was promised that the flooding would stop at 10 o’clock in the afternoon, so Yurii hoped that everything would pass quickly. However, even after noon, the powerful flow of water did not stop. So Yurii urgently left Fedorivka for Kherson to gather as many vehicles as possible to save the cattle. The man had been driving a Kamaz truck all his life and transporting goods, so on the day of the tragedy he wanted to help his fellow villagers.

First, Yurii arrived at his farm near home. Cattle were already roaring there, being loaded to be taken away from the water. His relatives and friends helped him – 10 volunteers in total. They saved the cattle until the morning. Then Yuriy’s team started helping the neighbors. But the property, along with the beams and grain stocks, had already been swept away.

And while Yurii and his friends were saving the farm and other people’s livestock, his house was being flooded by water from the dam. Eventually, the ceiling of the house collapsed. Everything he had built with his own hands over several decades was crumbling before his eyes. Now these hands are down to restore something. Household appliances, clothes, furniture – all this remains in the yard as a reminder of the tragedy. The water level reached above the ceiling and it was impossible to move around the village in the first days.

The man sent his children away from Kherson region to study. The war and occupation brought a lot of pain. Yurii does not live in his house anymore. There are simply no living conditions there, only dirt and stench. So Yuriy sleeps right there on the new farm where his animals were brought. There is a small room there that will never compare to the living conditions before the flood. All his relatives have fled, and now Yuriy is alone.

As part of our cooperation with World Vision International, we have provided the man with a large amount of humanitarian aid, including things for a comfortable sleep: a sleeping bag, a futon, a blanket and pillows. In addition, clean water has become an important support for Yuriy, as the water in Kherson region is still very dangerous for consumption.

We sincerely hope that our support will help Yuriy get through the most difficult period in his life.