The Lind family live in Prudyanka, a village that before the war was inhabited by 2000 people. Lying a few miles from the border it was attacked by invading Russian forces in February 2022 as they advanced on the nearby city of Kharkiv. The battles in the area lasted several weeks and the Russians were eventually thrown back to the border. The village was in ruins and only a few hundred either stayed becuase they had nowhere to go, or have returned. Amongst the former were the Lind family: 88 year old Maya's home was completely destroyed by Russian grad rockets, whose cases still litter the garden. On the same plot but in a seperate house yards away lived her son Vladimir and his wife Lyudmilla - Volga Germans whose ancestors settled in Russia centuries ago, a people who have known nothing but dislocation and persecution since. Tne main Lind home, a modest detached dwelling typical of most in the village, was badly damaged by the blasts that destroyed Maya's house.
There are compensation schemes in Ukraine and many villagers received help from government and foreign sources to rebuild or replace their homes. The Linds however have only recieved limited help as the main structure of their home was considered to be sound although wiring was damaged and water penetration over the winters since has been severe. Because her son and his wife still had a home next door, Maya recieved no compensation and will never live in her home again. The family live next door to a relative of my Kharkiv friend and contact Valentina, and she introduced us and translated their story. They have no family themselves to seek support from but have helped others in the village including Valentina's cousin, whose damaged roof Vladimir helped repair.
One of the rockets that hit Maya's home destroyed the underground larder that they stored food in to keep it cool (fortunately they were not inside it sheltering at the time or they would all have died). They have nowhere now to keep food cool as Summer approaches and when limited help was suggested, felt this would be of great assistance.
I am therefore appealing to friends on Arran to support this Crowdfunder - it will only be open for one week and will purchase a fridge for the Linds. I will post pictures of the result when the fridge is in place in their home but meantime attach a few pictures of how I found them last month.
