PhD student Ukrainian Tecnun Dmytro Hlukhov tells how he is helping his compatriots from San Sebastian.

The war broke out in Ukraine and after three or four days of deep pain and helplessness, PhD student Ukrainian Tecnun Dmytro felt that he could help his native country from San Sebastian. "I couldn't believe it. I went through a phase of denial of reality. plenary session of the Executive Council You wonder how in the 21st century in Europe something like this could be happening. You are shocked to see what is happening in places you have been to so many times, such as the Lviv station I passed through this Christmas. Everything moves you and you feel that helplessness of wanting to help because it hurts you inside. People ask you, they want to help, but you don't know how you can do it because you have the same doubts as all of them," he says.

Soon after, he joined the Facebook group called financial aid Humanitarian Headquarters of the Ukrainian city of Lvivlocated 60 km from Poland. He read about the needs posted by Ukrainians who "had had to leave their homes at the sound of a siren with nothing but the clothes on their backs and the first thing they could find in their backpacks". At that moment he realized that, although he could not directly help his compatriots, he could "alleviate the suffering of innocent people who were trying to take refuge from the tragic war".

This is how Dmytro contacted the association Vostok-Ekialde (Lira) and accessed the WhatApp group in which more than 100 Ukrainian volunteers are mobilizing in San Sebastian collecting different products to send to Ukraine.

The PhD student de Tecnun tells that the association Vostok-Ekialde (Lira) acts under the legal protection of the association partner cultural of Ukrainians for Euskadi, which is directly associated with the Ukrainian embassy. "Volunteer organizations located in Poland and Ukraine, as well as, the Ukrainian embassy itself in Spain, communicate the needs they have at every moment. Our association financial aid in San Sebastian collects, classifies and organizes the material so that the central storeroom is only in charge of managing the transport", explains Dmytro.

Where are you collecting?

In San Sebastian (c. Amara, 24), in Trintxerpe (c. Jaizkibel, 6) and in Irun (avda. Nafarroa 13, Slavianka store). In addition, we will set up a collection point at entrance of Ibaeta at Tecnun starting tomorrow.

What products are you collecting?

Non-perishable food (rice, cookies, nuts, protein bars, cans and preserves), hygiene products staff (toothpaste, disposable razors, shampoos, sanitary napkins), medicines (painkillers, antiseptics, anti-inflammatories, first aid kits), thermal underwear (T-shirts, pants, socks and underpants) and camping equipment (sleeping bags, mats and thermoses). In Ukraine in March it is very cold and thermal clothing is one of the greatest needs because people are hiding in basements or shelters where they cannot take shelter.

How are you organising them?

We are organising what we receive so that everything that is sent is in good condition. We are sorting the clothes by age and size, we are grouping the medicines according to their type as well as the non-perishable food that people are bringing in.

How are shipments handled?

From San Sebastian they are transported to a center in Munguía (Vizcaya), although there are also others, where the contents of each box are checked. From there they are sent to Przemysl (Poland) and a direct contact receives them at a collection point. Then the public administration of Lviv (it is a logistics point core topic) is put in contact with Poland to transfer the needs that exist at that moment and thanks to the volunteers the merchandise is collected. Finally, with the army financial aid we try to distribute all the collected goods on the Ukrainian territory which is not yet in the middle of the war.

Have any shipments gone out yet?

This weekend the first trucks have left for Ukraine. Once they arrive at their destination, they have to report the confirmation of arrival.

Is there certainty that what is sent reaches its destination?

The encouragement and desire that we have for what we send to actually arrive means that we are continually asking questions and keeping an eye on the trucks leaving. Nobody but us, who have friends and family there, want everything we send to reach its destination. The problem we have is that everything changes all the time and of course there is the fear that what we send will be lost or that there will be problems there. However, every day more and more organisations are offering to collaborate with us and new opportunities arise to help the people of Ukraine.