At the Ukrainian-Slovak Border
For three years pre-kids my wife and I lived in Košice, Slovakia about 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. It's still perhaps our favorite city in the world, and it's where we were married. More than once I've visited a small village in eastern Slovakia and had students point across a small creek and say, "That's the Ukraine." At the time it wasn’t possible for Americans to cross the physical border. We had to fly to Kiev for passport and visa reasons, so I’ve only ever looked at the Ukraine and met people from it.
With the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, Slovaks are preparing to help with emergencies both in the Ukraine, and to host what they anticipate to be thousands and thousands of refugees crossing the border into Slovakia.
It's helpful for those who have never been to this part of the world to think regionally more than nationally. For example, there are Ruthenian peoples who do not have their own nation but live in northeastern Slovakia, southeastern Poland, and western Ukraine.
Similarly, there are many Romani people who live (of course all over Europe) but especially in this region of eastern Europe.
And there are many Ukrainians who live in Slovakia, and many Slovak communities in the Ukraine.
So when the nation of Ukraine is invaded, it has a massive regional impact. On the news you are seeing that many Ukrainians are fleeing to Poland, but they are also going many other places. Just yesterday around 10,000 Ukrainians passed into Slovakia.
My friend pastor Ondrej (he officiated our wedding) now works for a Christian NGO in Slovakia, and I asked him how they were doing. He sent a few photos (which I've included), and also some description of the current situation. I reproduce that here. I had asked him how he was doing, and how we could help:
"There are some refugees already in Kosice. So far, most of them have families and friend in Slovakia or Czechia, so they are more like "tourists" than refugees. Later we expect more and more people who have no place to go. Men are not allowed to leave Ukraine anymore, just women and children.
Slovak mobile companies announced free calls to Ukraine from Slovakia, railways and travel companies allow Ukrainians travel for free in our country so that they could get where they need to... I know about many places who are preparing shelters for refugees, and also hospitals are getting ready for injured people. In some villages near the border people and churches are already taking care of some Ukrainians, mostly mothers with children.
We have a Ukrainian family living in our apartment house, three children, very nice people. She is from Uzhorod where it is safe and do not expect direct attacks but his family lives right in Kiev. So far they are ok but that can change in a minute. I read that some Ukrainian men have been already called for military duty from Czechia and Slovakia.
Have you read that Russians have already threatened Sweden and Finland not to join NATO? Unbelievable!
There is a meeting in our church tonight about how can we help. We are planning to buy some food and medical drugs to donate for Ukraine. There are plenty organisations willing to assist. And I see here in Eastern Slovakia meny municipals, small villages, towns, churches open to help and accept refugees, everywhere.
One can not be sure that if Ukraine falls, the Baltics and Slovakia are not the next... Putin has openly said that his intention is the reorganize of Eurupe according how it was before 1997 or 1989..."
"My friends, a reformed pastor [Ondrej is a Lutheran pastor, but the Reformed church is also a significant group in Slovakia, interestingly Eastern Slovakia includes Protestants, many Roman Catholics, and many Eastern rite Catholics, and also Orthodox, it's an east-west melting pot of traditions], they own a former "children camp", there are 50 beds available but do not have money to cover it for refugees. Certainly you can organise a collection and we can be in contact and then navigate where to donate.
I know a Roma [for those unfamiliar, Roma are what were often previously called "Gipsy," although that term is now considered derogatory and Roma is the preferred] from the Pentecostal church they already have some refugees in a village near Michalovce [about halfway between Kosice and the border], and I am in contact with an organisation who has experiences with similiar issues, I know personally one man there and my brother worked there for a while and they coordinate some activities and also collect money to cover expenses of those who help.
I think it is fair if you say to your people that you are in communicatiom with me, there cetainly will be a bigger need in next days/weeks. There are already thousends of people witing to cross the border to Slovakia.
Currently what is going on is that the organisations started to collect resources, and analysing possible locations where to locate those in need, especially in Eastern Slovakia.
We are sending some medical drugs on Monday via our Ukrainian neighbors to Ukraine and donated some food and drugs/shampoo to one organisation in Kosice."
That's what I have for now. If you'd like to donate immediately, just use the donation portal at our church web site. Once I have a clearer ask for support we may also launch a Facebook fundraiser.
I am so thankful for the good will of so many people. All the people I know in Eastern Slovakia are laying aside what they might normally be doing right now, and responding to the emergency needs of their neighbors. I see God at work in this.