A wise ancient proverb teaches Ukrainians “the world is small as we are told, but there are people with hearts of gold.” As a rule, they have a brave heart and noble intentions, and their actions make everyday life better. It turns out, those are the real superheroes who save humanity from evil, and they change depending on the era, age, or circumstances.

In the harsh realities of our day, for every Ukrainian, from child to old man, the real superheroes are the military and volunteers. Moreover, at that moment, when russia attacked Ukraine, the world realized that the real heroes of the XXI century were Ukrainians who dedicatedly defended their land against the enemy. At the same time, the Ukrainians have a clear and unwavering position: you are either in the Armed Forces of Ukraine or for the Armed Forces of Ukraine today.

Our Guardian of Light Oksana Donchuk, who started volunteering back in 2014, shares this opinion. It was then that russia annexed the Ukrainian Crimea and occupied Donbas. Therefore, when the full-scale invasion began, the volunteer’s actions were clear and consistent.

“The war for me began back in 2014,” our heroine explains. “Namely, when the enemy occupied the Donetsk region, where my grandmother’s house was located. Then husband of her sister Olena volunteered for the front. Our entire family came together to support my sister in her volunteer activities, aimed at providing assistance to her husband, as well as his brothers-in-arms and all those who defended Ukraine.”

Before the full-scale invasion, Oksana Donchuk lived an ordinary life: she raised her son, had a hobby, helped the front, and occupied the position of Head of Corporate IS Operation Department at JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”. However, the Ukrainian woman felt that something was happening in space and that changes were waiting for Ukraine.

“Until February 24, 2022, I lived like many of us,” the volunteer recalls. “I enjoyed my new position at Energoatom. In 2019, in search of professional development, I moved from Finance Directorate to Information Technology Directorate. I was gratified by successes of my student son – a future psychologist, and I traveled, spent time with friends, painted and embroidered.

Since December 2021, I began to feel that something was changing. Therefore, when the opening of national resistance centers started in Kyiv, I suggested my sister Olena to get training. Due to a number of circumstances, we decided to enroll after my business trip, at the end of February 2022. But we didn’t have time…”

The Great War found Oksana Donchuk at the Zaporizhzhia NPP in Energodar. The news of a full-scale invasion seemed like nonsense to her at first.

“The first thing that came to my mind: what kind of war can there be in the civilized world of the 21st century?!” recalls the employee of Energoatom. “After that I thought I needed to get home as soon as possible. At the Zaporizhzhia bus station, people were very surprised when they heard that I was not going to Poland or western Ukraine, but home to Kyiv. I have not even thought about running away, because this is my city. I was born, live and will live here.”

While our Guardian of Light was getting to the capital, she exchanged messages with her friend who was organizing a field kitchen. Oksana were clarifying how she could be useful and what kind of help was generally needed. After returning home, she decided to take her relatives out.

On February 27, 2022, the volunteer, together with her sister Olena, took their mother, children and dog to a safe place. The next day she went back to Kyiv, because she understood that the military as well as civilians needed help.

“I started volunteering from the first days of the full-scale war.” the Ukrainian woman comments. “Later, when the NGO “Guardians of Light” was established, I was with Olena, who headed it, supporting my sister and giving advices. Moreover, over time, I realized that I wanted and could do more. That is how I became part of the organization.

There are establishment, support, and comprehensive cooperation with separate subdivisions of NGO “Guardians of Light” among my responsibilities. Recently, one of these subdivisions appeared at the South Ukrainian NPP – “Pivdennyi,” and very soon we will launch “Polisskyi” one.

I am also responsible for maintaining the organization’s financial and economic activities and for cooperation with the 3rd assault brigade. There is a lot of work, but if there are not enough hands somewhere, I am always ready to support.”

According to our heroine, there is something about volunteer work that hearten – it is when the military writes: “Thank you, your aid has arrived”. Nevertheless, at the same time, there is something upsetting.

“It hurts when my casual friends, somehow, as if with a reproach or a joke, clarify why I need it,” Oksana Donchuk shares. – And I sincerely do not understand how in the fourth year of the Great War it is possible not to see the sense in helping, in volunteering.

Moreover, I get very upset when we cannot provide aid due to a lack of resources. Sometimes it generally seems that I am not doing enough, that I should be next to the defenders.

Once I even filled out documents for mobilization. However, my friend from “zero” arrived and dissuaded me from that. He said that he was there precisely so that I could live here. And he emphasized that my work in the rear was also very important for the front and the approximation of Victory.”

Therefore, the volunteer calls on everyone who is in more or less safe regions of the country not to forget those people, thanks to whom they have the opportunity to enjoy the hugs of children, the sun, silence, and life itself. She stresses that helping the military is a common duty of Ukrainians:

“If we do not want to see the enemy on our doorstep again, we must act. I agree with the words of a famous person that a citizen of Ukraine who is not at the front or does not help in the rear cannot call himself such a person. Everyone must work for Victory.

At the same time, I am very proud of my surrounding, because there are many friends on the front line, and I always grateful to them for being there, and for the fact that sometimes they find the time to write “alive and healthy”. My heart is full of gratitude to our defenders.

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!”