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The charitable organization is launching a new column in which it will share stories of its employees with readers every week. Today we are sharing one of these stories.

Illia Ruban is an IDP from Luhansk region. The intensification of hostilities in February forced him and his family to evacuate to Dnipro. Having lost business in Krymske village that is situated near Lysychansk, Illia offered his services as a driver to ADRA Ukraine. He is currently evacuating people and providing access to vital services within the framework of the project on social transportation that is implemented in cooperation with the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.

“We left almost everything in Lysychansk and moved to another place,” shares Illia. – At first it was difficult, I spent several nights in the car. Then, when the situation became a little clearer, I realized that I could not sit idle. I thought that I was lucky to be alive and well. The family is more or less safe. We were able to leave, while many of my compatriots do not have such an opportunity. So, I started to evacuate people from Luhansk region by my own forces. I went to Severodonetsk, Rubizhne. Under shelling, I took people from basements, persuaded them to leave. I managed to evacuate many people. Then I decided to join a humanitarian organization. I’m familiar with the activities of ADRA Ukraine in Luhansk region, where the organization provided assistance to the civilian population. I wanted to join a friendly team of philanthropists long ago. Now I continue to deal with the evacuation of the civilian population, mainly from Donetsk region. It happens that I hear and see the consequences of hostilities, I become a witness of human grief… It is impossible to get used to it. But the thought that I am doing a useful and important thing makes me happy. I am proud that I can help people.”

Now, Illia makes daily evacuation trips from villages and towns of Donetsk region, he helps to “unload” the social hub in Zaporizhzhia. After all, residents of Kherson and other cities of southern Ukraine arrive there every day.

Since February 2022, more than 26,000 people have received assistance within the framework of this project on a free basis.
In general, during this time, about 38,500 people have been evacuated and transported due to evacuation direction of ADRA Ukraine. The activity goes on.