War Against Ukraine - My Experience - By Rick Williams

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You may remember that I drove a van full of donated non-military supplies from Warsaw, Poland, to Kyiv, Ukraine, last summer.

I wanted to see for myself what was happening in Ukraine under Russian attack. I joined other American volunteers bringing medical and other supplies to Ukraine, then toured the country and spoke with leaders there.

The scale of the war and the 6,000 to 8,000 deaths EACH WEEK are mostly unreported in the US.

The Harvard and U Penn Wharton alum organizations, along with other major civic organizations, hosted a program in Boston where I shared my experience in Ukraine. Prof. Serhii Plokhii, Director of Harvard’s Ukraine Institute, discussed the history of the Russian-Ukraine War and its importance to the US and Europe. Prof. Olena Lennon moderated the program and shared her perspective, having been raised in Ukraine.

A highlights video of the program is now available. Please take 30 minutes to view or listen to this engaging and important discussion about life in Ukraine, the history and outlook for the war, and why we should care about what happens.

This program was held at a conference center in Boston’s Seaport District. The program was supposed to last about 70 minutes. After two hours, the conference center folks said we had to stop. The engagement between the panelists and attendees was amazing!

Please take a moment to watch this video. My pictures from Ukraine along with insights from Prof. Lennon and Prof. Plokhii on the history of Ukraine and Russia will help you understand what is really behind the war and why its outcome is important to America.

If you have friends and associates who are following Russia’s war against Ukraine, please forward the video link to them.

The video includes links to non-profit organizations in the US and Ukraine that are supporting the Ukrainian people. If you want to help, these organizations are options to consider.

Living Under Russian Attack

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine. Kyiv is a city of 3 million residents on the Dnieper River.

I saw commuters coming into the city in the morning and going home at the end of the day. Every night at about 10 PM, everyone is in or near a bomb shelter awaiting a Russian drone or missile attack.

I saw bombed-out upper stories of apartment and office buildings hit by Russian drones and a mom buying her daughter cotton candy. That dichotomy is everyday life in Ukraine.

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