There are now only 200 people left in the village, mostly elderly and sick people who are unable to move.

"It's horrible to see and see how people are broken down by the destruction of their life's work and start to have a hard time seeing what they can return to when the village starts to become like a pile of rubble," says Sofia Hoas, chairperson of the association Svenskbyborna.

Gammalsvenskby has connections to Gotland through its Swedish descendants. The association is in daily contact with the residents and is trying to get more aid shipments.

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The background to the connection between the Gotland association and the Ukrainian village that has been hit hard during the war. Photo: Sofia Hoas