Three Years of War: Action for Post-Soviet Jewry’s Commitment to Ukraine’s Jews

Three Years of War: Action for Post-Soviet Jewry’s Commitment to Ukraine’s Most Vulnerable Jews

Three years ago, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the days that followed, the world watched in horror as cities were bombed, families were torn apart, and millions were displaced. For Action for Post-Soviet Jewry (Action-PSJ), an organization with a 50-year history of aiding Jewish communities in Eastern Europe, the war was not just a geopolitical event—it was an urgent call to action. We knew that the elderly, the isolated, and those who already lived in the aid gap before the war would be at even greater risk. Three years later, that reality has only intensified.

Since the invasion, we have witnessed an exponential rise in need. The number of internally displaced persons has grown, and those who remain face daily power outages, air raids, and the constant threat of attack. Elderly Jews—many of whom survived the Holocaust and Soviet repression—are now enduring yet another chapter of suffering. The consequences of three years of war are staggering: an increase in physical and mental health issues, devastating isolation, and a collapse of support systems that once provided a safety net. According to a recent survey, over 60% of the elderly now suffer from untreated chronic conditions and more than 70% report extreme loneliness due to the destruction of community centers and social networks (HelpAge USA).

Adapting to Meet the Crisis

Action-PSJ has transformed in these three years to meet Ukraine’s Jewish community’s growing and intense needs. We have expanded our medical assistance programs, ensuring access to life-saving medications, consultations, and emergency care. In partnership with our trusted network on the ground, we helped launch Ukraine’s first telehealth program for elderly Jews, recognizing that mobility and access to care have become even more challenging. However, demand for these services far exceeds our current capacity—we have waitlists in all of our communities for microgrants and telehealth support (Read more about our Telehealth initiative here: Jewish Boston).

“I remember the beginning of the war; getting aid shipped and money sent was almost impossible. We had to pivot our logistical operations continuously to meet the ever-changing and unpredictable needs. As we have done throughout the three years, we have worked tirelessly with our network in Ukraine to get medicine to people in areas only ground couriers could reach to make sure the elderly in rural communities had alternative heating options so they did not freeze to death, and to ensure the aid we sent provided our elders with the ability to live with some dignity and respect—through ways to keep food warm, adult incontinence supplies, and microgrants so they can choose what dire need they need to address. We were successful because of the relationships we had built over 50 years, and as a small yet mighty organization, we were able to pivot and move forward rapidly and with resolve. ” — Debbie Kardon, Executive Director of Action-PSJ

We have continued to advocate for those who fall through the cracks—just as we did decades ago for refuseniks, just as we did after the Soviet Union collapsed and during COVID. Our mission has remained constant: helping vulnerable Jews and ensuring that those in the aid gap are not forgotten. Whether by providing direct aid, distributing winter supplies, or simply sending handwritten postcards and cards of hope, we have worked tirelessly to maintain connection and dignity for those we serve. One elderly recipient in Dnipro recently told us, “Without these deliveries, I wouldn’t have my heart medicine or even food. It is terrifying to be forgotten.”

Fifty Years of Service, Three Years of War, and a Commitment to the Future

As Action-PSJ celebrates its 50th anniversary, we reflect on our past and ongoing responsibilities. The war in Ukraine has tested our resolve, but it has also reaffirmed our core values. We remain committed to advocating for those in need, developing community-driven programs, and strengthening the Jewish presence in a region that has endured so much devastation.

The stories from the past three years are heartbreaking—an 85-year-old woman who survived the siege of Leningrad is now struggling to survive in a basement without heat; a disabled Holocaust survivor forced to flee her home in Melitopol with nothing but a single bag; a community leader in Smela who now spends his days coordinating aid rather than leading celebrations. And yet, despite the suffering, resilience shines through. With every food package delivered, every medical consultation provided, and every connection maintained, we affirm the power of the community and the responsibility to act.

Ella Gonchorova, director of Action for Ukraine, reflects on this resilience: “On the eve of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, no one believed that such a monstrous war could happen in the center of Europe. But we survived, adapted, and found our own ways to cope with reality. Our organization unites Jewish pensioners from all over Ukraine, ensuring that the most vulnerable among us—low-income elderly, the lonely, the disabled—are not forgotten.”

One elderly woman, Vera Saenko of Kamenskoye, recently shared, “Even in the darkest times, you remind us that we are not alone. I am 88 years old. I lived through World War II as a child. And I couldn’t imagine that at the end of my life, I would also be hiding from rockets and shells… This is thanks, among other things, to the Action organization, which takes care of people like me, sending financial resources, food, an essential pharmacy, heating items, and many necessary things. This is a huge help and support in difficult times.”

This is the heart of our work. Every act of kindness, every donation, every word of encouragement helps us continue. Your support ensures that people like Vera Saenko are not alone. Stand with us today.

We invite you to join us in this ongoing effort. Whether through advocacy, donations, or simply spreading awareness, every action makes a difference. Let us honor our history and those we have lost by standing with those who need us most.

Action for Post-Soviet Jewry
Serving with commitment, compassion, and hope for 50 years.