Four years ago this morning, we woke up in a different reality. It is a day no one in Ukraine will ever forget.

Alongside the pain of loss, destruction, and constant anxiety, these four years have been marked by resilience, solidarity, and the question we continue to ask ourselves every day: how can we be of help? Voice of Romni supports those who have found themselves in the most difficult circumstances. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, we have assisted nearly 111,500 people. Each of them has a different story, yet they share a common pain.

“We were ‘liberated’ last night,” says Mariia Ivko from Zaporizhzhia, whose home was damaged by a russian aerial bomb strike in October 2024.

In the summer of 2025, we restored her house. But in November, it was damaged again during another russian attack. The mother of many children was left without housing, and we stepped in once more to provide support.

Mariia’s home is one of 102 houses restored by the Voice of Romni team during the war. We implemented a critically important project to repair homes where Roma families live — people in hardship, internally displaced persons, families hosting IDPs, low-income households, large families, and families with young children. Our primary goal was simple yet vital: to ensure that at least one room in every home was warm and suitable for winter.

The vulnerability of the Roma community during the war in Ukraine has only intensified, says the President of Voice of Romni, Anzhelika Bielova:

“Difficult conditions — power outages, lack of water, and other factors — disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, including the Roma community, because they have fewer resources to adapt to critical situations. Many families cannot afford power banks, charging stations, firewood, or warm blankets. Due to limited access to technical devices such as smartphones with internet access or laptops, they often do not receive timely information about available support programs. Therefore, the mission of Voice of Romni is to ensure that the most vulnerable Roma families receive essential assistance during this critical time.”

Every day, russian forces take away our homes and our loved ones, while attempting to convince the world that the invasion of Ukraine is a “rescue” or “liberation.” In reality, it is the destruction of millions of lives.

Yet Ukrainians do not surrender. Four years of war have proven that the strength of our country lies in its people, its communities, and in the willingness to support one another. Roma men and women stand alongside their fellow citizens, defending Ukraine on the front lines.

Voice of Romni continues its work in frontline regions — Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk — as well as in Zakarpattia, to remain close to those who need support the most. Every day, we do everything possible to ensure that the needs of the Roma community are heard, that vulnerable families are not left alone, and that Ukraine’s future recovery is fair, inclusive, and reflective of our society’s diversity.