The Mykolaivska and Khersonska oblasts have suffered extensive damage not only due to constant shelling but also because the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station was destroyed. These regions are still recovering from significant destruction. That is why the Foundation is implementing a Comprehensive Assistance Project to provide maximum aid to people affected by the war.
As part of this project, the Foundation supports the residents of Mykolaivska and Khersonska oblasts by providing:
- Mobile laundry and bathing services to remote communities that lack access to basic hygiene facilities, including laundry and showers;
- Legal consultations;
- Services at a stationary laundry facility and a Social Hub.
Six days a week, mobile units visit communities where water supply and/or electricity are unavailable. Detergents and hygiene kits are provided to every visitor free of charge.
Incident on March 13
On March 13, one of the mobile laundry and bathing units was scheduled to provide services in the village of Novohrednyeve, Kalynivska community, Khersonska Oblast. However, on the way there, the trailer carrying the unit broke down.
“While the Foundation team was working on organizing trailer repairs in Mykolaiv, our driver conducted a technical inspection and attempted to determine the cause of the malfunction on-site. Around 1 p.m., near the village of Yevhenivka in the Snihurivska community, we lost contact with the driver of the mobile laundry and bathing unit. Only in the evening did we learn that the driver had been detained by employees of the Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR),” stated a representative of the transport service provider working with the Foundation.
Foundation representatives later found the abandoned unit on the side of the road. However, they were unable to continue the planned route or transport the unit to its storage location because the vehicle keys and registration documents had disappeared along with the driver.
What Happened?
While carrying out a humanitarian mission in Mykolaivska Oblast, employees of the TCR unlawfully detained the driver responsible for transporting and servicing the mobile laundry and bathing unit — without police involvement. As a result, the unit and all its equipment, valued at several million hryvnias and intended to aid those affected by the war, were left unattended on the highway, 90 kilometers from Mykolaiv. Due to a fortunate set of circumstances, the Foundation team was able to prevent serious consequences and resume assistance to the community the next day.
As the Foundation team searched for the driver and prepared to report the incident to the police, they discovered that he was being held at a TCR facility. His mobile phone had been confiscated, and only later was he allowed to inform the Foundation that the humanitarian mission had been halted.
Through significant efforts, the Foundation team managed to recover the keys and documents for both the mobile unit and the vehicle transporting it. Special thanks go to the additional transport providers involved and to the courier service Nova Poshta, which helped deliver the keys and documents, restoring control over the unit.
Our Position
While the Foundation acknowledges the importance of mobilization efforts, it emphasizes the necessity of conducting them lawfully. TCR employees have no legal authority to detain citizens independently. Their competence is limited to reporting an individual’s failure to appear in response to a summons, after which only law enforcement agencies may take action to bring the person to the TCR.
The events that occurred not only violate the law but also jeopardize assistance to those who need it most. As a result of these actions, the humanitarian mission was effectively halted, and expensive equipment was left unattended. Additionally, fuel was found to be missing from the vehicle, delaying the resumption of aid services even on the following day, March 14.
In wartime conditions, such incidents create additional risks for affected communities, volunteers, and organizations providing support.
We extend our gratitude to everyone who remained engaged and helped restore humanitarian aid services to the affected residents of Mykolaivska and Khersonska oblasts.
We call on the relevant authorities to investigate this incident and take measures to prevent similar situations in the future. Humanitarian activities must not be obstructed by arbitrary unlawful actions.