This year is full of special events that united the Ukrainian people and entered the history of our country. Unfortunately, a sad and bitter event did not pass us by – a black and even terrible page in the history of Ukraine, Europe and the world. This is what became the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. 

The “special operation” in Putin’s lying policy has brought a lot of trouble, atrocities, bloodshed, murders of civilians to our land. Thousands of children remained orphans, thousands of mothers will never see their sons again, thousands of women became widows. Many settlements were destroyed, 8 million Ukrainians left their homes and became internally displaced, more than 6 million Ukrainian refugees abroad, more than 4 million of them in the Republic of Poland. Tens of thousands and millions of crippled destinies, unborn children, traumatized souls and hearts. 

But it is nice that the war did not frighten our youth. I am not even surprised by the fact that her sense of patriotism has become quite acute. For almost 7 months now, the youth of Kharkiv region have been trying to help the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in their brave fight against the Russian invaders to the best of their ability. Even before the start of the full-scale invasion, pupils and students of Kharkiv established close contact with border defenders in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, with volunteers who brought food and medicine to the fighters. At the end of last year, the youth of educational institutions collected funds, with them they bought fabric and sewing establishments sewed flags, and then handed them over to the defenders of Avdiivka, Popasnaya, where our compatriots – the defenders – were staying. 

When the full-scale invasion of the Russian aggressors began, the students and most of the teachers were not afraid of the trials in Kharkiv near the front: they stayed in the city and continued their important endeavors. Only the Kharkiv Higher Vocational School of Garment Production and Life in August sewed 150 national flags, which are missing on the front lines, and sent them to the defenders of Ukraine’s eastern borders. This was supported by volunteers. Olena and Stanislav Pylypenka, who also cared for the wounded in the hospital. Previously, they also sent flags to the front, but this important symbolism is still not enough. Cold Donetsk winds quickly disable them. 

Nina Gerasimenko and Olena Datsenko, masters of industrial training at the school, played a major role in sewing the flags. The flags turned out to be high-quality and eloquent. The school, which is 78 years old today, played a major role in World War II, sewing and clothing soldiers. It is of great importance even today. 

• In July-August, the students, under the guidance of industrial training masters, sewed men’s shirts for changing clothes for the defenders of Ukraine who were being treated at the military medical clinical center of the Northern region. 
• Using the collected funds, the students bought hygiene products, various goodies, tea, coffee, drinking water and gave all this to the hospital. 

A big river starts from small streams. So today’s army of volunteers is also on the front lines. 

It should also be noted the great work carried out by the volunteers of the Kharkiv Public Association “Prosvita”. Its leader is Oleksandr Tereshchenko, who often visited defenders in military units in previous years. This is how the path of patriotic products to the 54th brigade, near Maryinka and Propasna, was outlined. Along with the flags, the girls sang greetings in front of the soldiers. This made quite an impression on the soldiers. Touched, they said that it was as if they had met their own daughters and felt a homely atmosphere. And in response, they sent their congratulations to the young. And the representatives of the 25th battalion of the 54th brigade named after Ivan Mazepa expressed their respect and gratitude on the pennant handed over from the front line and sealed it with their own signatures – “Thank you from the bottom of my heart! – Unity is our strength! – Victory is behind us!» 

Young people constantly visit the wounded in the clinical hospital. Now another important area of assistance is being developed — the production of camouflage nets. A case that plays a significant role at the forefront of the defense under the power of women’s education teams. A collection of fabrics and materials has been announced, many of which have accumulated in families and are not used in everyday life, but are suitable for such nets. Some of them have already been handed over to volunteers who have been engaged in such work for more than one month. Activists from the public association “Bereginya” promised to teach our pupils – volunteers – about such a matter. At the same time, with the beginning of the academic year, the student self-government plans to start making nets. We are currently collecting materials. 

Thus, the patriotic cause united representatives of several generations of Kharkiv residents – youth, experienced volunteers and patriots, and showed that together it is possible to accomplish many good deeds for the benefit of the Motherland and its courageous defenders. This is an important moment in the formation of the public position of the youth.

Head of the Commission for Work with Youth of the Kharkiv Regional Council of Veterans of Ukraine Ninel BATRACHENKO. Director of the State Institution of Vocational (Vocational and Technical) Education “Kharkiv Higher Vocational School of Sewing Industry and Household”