Read on for a letter and call to action from one of our own from Peace Corps Ukraine:
The RPCV Alliance for Ukraine was contacted by a former Peace Corps Safety and Security Manager with a request: to share a letter he wrote to Ukraine RPCVs. He now works as a UN employee while simultaneously serving as President of a regional UN Veterans association. His organization has collected winter clothes for the Territorial Defense and refugees, coordinated refugee accommodations, collected money to buy fuel and food, and also provide psychological support. Below is a personal letter addressed to all RPCVs calling on us to continue our advocacy for the people of Ukraine. While we have been asked to protect this person’s identity, you may inquire with us privately.
My Dear Peace Corps Family,
About seven years have passed since I left my position at Peace Corps Ukraine. I feel a strong connection with the amazing PC volunteers’ community. In my soul you remain my beloved “kids”, my dearest family. I keep in touch with many RPCVs and some of you I consider as my very-very close folks.
As the Russian invasion began, I have received a dozen messages from American PC Volunteers expressing their concern about my safety along with generous offers to help, and to provide refuge if needed.
Needless to waste your time to explain what is going on in my country – you can see the pictures on TV and the Internet. But it is absolutely different for human understanding to be inside of this hell, hearing sirens every hour, witnessing rockets flashing low over your heads and exploding in residential blocks not far from my house and seeing neighbors killed by Russian rocket attack.
Yesterday in Mariupol Russian barbarians were bombing maternity house, many babies were killed and maimed. In the city about 25 thousand people were killed or died without water and food under continuous shelling. The Russians violated an agreed ceasefire during a “humanitarian corridor” timespan and killed hundreds of civilians – women, elders, children…
Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Mariupol and Kyiv suburbs are almost wiped off the face of the Earth….
It is a war beyond human understanding. It is a genocide through atrocities … it is just an insane final agony of the Russian empire.
Peaceful Ukraine successfully holds back a tremendous militaristic empire. One on one.
Of course, we appreciate the outstanding support provided by our Western partners, US in particular. The unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russia may soon significantly weaken the potential of the aggressor by shaking its economy. An oil embargo will also create certain difficulties for the Russian economy and may eventually ruin it.
Thanks to international assistance, especially from the US, Ukrainian Armed Forces are equipped with the modern defensive weapons and are able to withhold the aggressive attack we’re facing on the ground.
But is this enough? What do you think?
Again and again: everyday thousands of civilians – elderly people, children, and women are perishing from rocket attacks and bombardments from the air.
We need a NON-FLY ZONE above our heads. We need it badly. We need it to survive.
I know how the Peace Corps institution is important for America and the rest of the world.
In these critical days I am asking my American Peace Corps family to raise your great voice through authorized representatives to convince your President to cover our sky ASAP. To save thousands of Ukrainian lives. To save the democratic world.
Sincerely
Former Peace Corps Ukraine, Safety and Security Manager
We know that Ukrainians desperately need the airspace closed to mitigate Russian bombings of key military, civilian, and support regions. The Alliance For Ukraine stands in solidarity with our determined Peace Corps Staff and support the closing of Ukrainian airspace.
Advocacy opportunities:
There are lots of ways to encourage the United States to close the airspace over Ukraine. A first step is to sign this petition.
The most impactful way is to contact your representatives. Let’s tell legislators in the US that we care about Ukraine and need to act!
Find your Representative’s contact information here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Find your Senators’ contact information here: https://www.senate.gov/general/contacting.htm