A mother evacuating with her child, a father heading to the battlefield to protect his country.



It is the appearance of the Ukrainian family now, which is repeatedly conveyed.


So what is the generation of that parent?



As I proceeded with the interview, I gradually became aware of the situation of the elderly in Ukraine.

I should have escaped together

"Let's get out of this house together"



My grandmother, who lives in a condominium on the outskirts of Mariupol, where the Russian army continues to attack violently, refuses to persuade her grandson.



I just said, "If you are safe, I'm okay."

The reason is that I don't want to leave the house I'm used to living in.

Even if you keep hearing the sound of shaking windows.

"It's a shame that her grandmother remained in her hometown, but she had to respect her decision,"



said Valerie Korotkoff, 22, her grandson who left Mariupol .


What is the tendency of the elderly?

▼ "I don't want to evacuate / I want to stay in my current location" ・ ・ ・ 99%


▼ "I need medical support right now" ・ ・ ・ 34%


▼ "I need support for hygiene products" ・ ・ ・ 75%


▼ "I need food assistance" ... 91%


(according to "Help Age International", March 4, 2022)

This is the result of a questionnaire survey conducted by a support group headquartered in the United Kingdom on 1500 elderly people aged 60 and over living in the fiercely fighting areas of eastern Ukraine.



The people who answered "I don't want to evacuate / I want to stay in the current place", which accounts for more than 90%, are not the only ones who remain voluntarily.



Support groups analyze that many people are not physically free and cannot evacuate.

Support group "Help Age International" Representative Justin Davesha


"The reason why elderly people do not want to evacuate is that they have an attachment to their hometown, but they cannot move even if they want to move. At an appropriate shelter, With the right support, unfortunately, the fighting hasn't stopped and the situation is getting worse. ”




In the east, the Russian army's offensive continues, and the demand for medical, sanitary and food assistance continues to grow. There is no doubt that it is.



Support groups believe that many elderly people are exposed to the war and are suffering from poor health due to food and drug shortages and repeated evacuation fatigue.

Why is it difficult to evacuate?

Vladimir Putin, 82, is unable to evacuate from the second city, Kharkiv, where the Russian army continues to attack violently.



I have a serious disability in my leg and it takes time to walk even a short distance.

Since I have a pacemaker, it is essential to have medicines that lower blood pressure so as not to strain the heart.

Hours of travel to leave the city carry the double risk of a Russian attack and a sudden change in condition.

Vladimir's daughter and English teacher, Natasha, now lives in the eastern city of Dnipro, about 200 kilometers from her parents' home.



Since her mother died last year, her father Vladimir has been living alone.

She visited her father once every two weeks to take care of her surroundings.



Her neighbors also helped her buy food and medicine for Vladimir, who has difficulty going out.

The support of those around her is essential to her life.



However, the invasion of the Russian army forced Natasha herself to evacuate in an underground shelter.

I also thought about evacuating her father to a safe place, but it is not realistic to pick her up at Kharkiv, where the Russian army's violent attacks continue.



Natasha consulted with her relatives, who live near her father's house, "Can you take her father out in the car?"

But if the car gets stuck after being attacked, her father can't walk alone.



Vladimir himself was worried that long-distance travel would make him sick.

In the end, he had to give up evacuation.

Do you have enough medicine?

Natasha is worried about her father's medicine.

Relatives helped me with food and personal care, but Kharkiv wasn't able to get medicines to lower blood pressure.



As of the end of March, I had only about two weeks of medicine left.



At that time, his father was calling Natasha to express his sad feelings.

Vladimir Putin (82)


"The pharmacy doesn't have what I need at all. I don't know if I'll get the medicine I'm taking in the future. I'm lonely and very anxious.



" The phone, which was the only means of contact with my father, has finally stopped working.

Daughter Natasha Doronin


"My dad is isolated and unaided and exposed to bombardment and airstrikes every night. He's really hard to walk. It's too cruel. He said on the phone," Somehow. How can I survive without medicine? My father has been pushed to the limit, both physically and mentally. To stop this horrific situation, everyone in the world Needs effort and support. "

What kind of support is required?

UK support groups estimate that there are 1.2 million elderly people with disabilities and chronic illnesses in Ukraine.

However, this is the data before the Russian military invasion, and it is said that the detailed actual situation is not known now.



Various international and private organizations are providing support in various places, but the activity situation varies greatly depending on the region between the western part where the situation is relatively stable and the eastern part and the southern part where the Russian army continues to attack. It is the actual situation.



Support groups have stated that "support in the east is difficult at this time" from the perspective of fighting conditions and ensuring the safety of staff.



The dilemma of being unable to reach out to the elderly, who are the “vulnerable to evacuation” who need the most support, continues.



(International Department, Kento Yamamoto, Kouji Ekuan)