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Difficulty lies ahead for war-ravaged Ukraine

Kristen Sindelar
Mar 30, 2023
Mar 30, 2023

1 of 2

Much of Urkaine has been without power as Russia targets the power grid. Soldiers serving in Bakhmut, Ukraine, receive a much-needed generator doughnut, which was donated by the Vanden Bos family of Lyon County in northwestern Iowa.

Submitted photo

In January, eight containers of humanitarian aid from Iowa were distributed in Ukraine to displaced refugees.

Submitted photo

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Kristen Sindelar

It has been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. A year of hardship, missile attacks, electrical blackouts and financial distress.

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Iowa farmer finds second home in Ukraine despite war

“We take rocket fire here regularly. There are very few farmers who are anxious to get out in the field just yet. Being out on tractors in the middle of the field, you feel like a sitting duck.”

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Ukraine 1.jpg — Gordie Siebring (center) with two Norwegian medic volunteers serving in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Hours after they met, the medic volunteers went out to a rescue in civilian territory and their van was hit by rocket fire. Both were injured and one American medic killed.
Submitted photo

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Ukraine 7.jpg — Because the electrical infrastructure has been bombed in parts of Ukraine, thousands of people are without power. Gordie Siebring, right, delivers a generator to a family in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The generator was donated by an American veteran post in Maquoketa, Iowa.
Submitted photo

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Ukraine 3.jpg — American Pete Reed, right, was treating civilians in Bakhmut, Ukraine, when Russians attacked the ambulance, said Gordie Siebring, left.
Submitted photo

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Ukraine 6.jpg — Refugees from eastern Ukraine gather at a church in Kyiv.
Submitted photo

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Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.