The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
From missile strikes to school runs: UNOPS voices from Ukraine
For communities across Ukraine, four years of war has turned the simplest tasks into logistical challenges. It’s a harsh reality shared by our colleagues on the ground.
Years of war have brought destruction and suffering to communities across Ukraine. But while the conflict continues, so too does life.
From navigating missile strikes alongside school runs, to balancing air raids with the search for much-needed sleep – this is the harsh reality on the ground. It is the reality for the communities we serve, and for our colleagues who serve them.
Yet, despite it all, our team continues to show up. They show up for the children who want to go to school, the cities that need heat, and the country they call home.
Their unwavering commitment is the backbone of our work.
Read their stories below.
I focus on the reality I live in … Daily rituals allow us to keep going. If you build, you must build. You run to a shelter, then come back and continue working.
There’s some background stress present in my life all the time. I’m never properly relaxed. Part of me is always prepared to run to shelter. A good night’s sleep is a luxury these days ... [But] I can’t imagine rebuilding my life in another country. And so I must do my very best to make it so that this country prospers.
You have to be prepared that even a simple thing, such as buying groceries or taking a walk, can be disrupted. If you’re travelling, you need a couple of backup plans. Life is more intense and tiring.
I no longer remember what life was like before the war… After a terrible night, when you haven't slept due to missile strikes, day comes, and children have to go to school and study. As a mother, I feel sorry for these children exhausted from lack of sleep.
I am impressed by the level of discipline and self-organization Ukrainian people demonstrate under immense pressure. I ardently believe in this country and its people. It has got tremendous potential and a bright future.
