'Ukraine is not in the media anymore': Charity chief fears war being forgotten
Founder of Bournemouth-based charity says it's his "life's mission" to help people out in Ukraine
The founder of Ukraine Relief in Bournemouth fears the war-torn country is being “forgotten” as donations dwindle.
Karol Swiacki, 42, founded the Dorset charity two years ago to provide aid to Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion.
He said: "Ukraine is not in the media any more so, definitely, we would have much more (donations) if Ukraine was," the charity chief executive told the PA news agency.
"My question to everyone is: Do we really need to have rockets flying over our homes to understand how dangerous that is for the future of Europe? Only then the people will wake up.
"It feels sad that I, with 40 volunteers, can do so much that we send so many things to save tens of thousands of lives. And that's only a bunch of us, imagine what we could do if that was thousands of us."
Ukraine Relief, previously known as Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine, began at a warehouse in Castlepoint, collecting thousands of donations such as blankets, clothes and healthcare products, to be transported across Europe to Ukraine.
It has since become a registered charity with connections in the US, Sweden, Germany and France and has received backing from financial corporation JP Morgan.
Mr Swiacki admits he sacrifices time with his family to focus on his charity endeavours but feels it’s his moral obligation to continue supporting Ukraine.
"I'm working 16 hours a day and trying to do the best I can,” he added. “My children have no father because of how many duties I have.
"I know this is not the only war around the world, but this is our war and we cannot allow this to happen.”
More than a thousand Ukrainian’s have found a home in Dorset since Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
But as the war rages on and bombs fly overhead, children run into shelters for safety and the sound of planes and missile course around cities day and night, Mr Swiacki said its his “life mission” to continue helping out.