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Feeling heard, understood, and supported can make a real difference
Support often begins with something simple: people coming together. In partnership with Mölndal Municipality, HUG recently brought together Ukrainian participants in Mölndal for a series of peer support meetings focused on mental health, wellbeing, and integration.
Peer support meetings are based on the idea that people facing similar challenges can learn from and strengthen one another. For displaced Ukrainians, these meetings can offer a space to share experiences, talk about challenges and needs related to integration, and encourage one another.
Because displacement often brings stress, uncertainty, and isolation, each meeting was designed to foster a sense of belonging and explore small, practical ways to support wellbeing in everyday life.
The idea behind small steps is that even modest actions can lead to meaningful change, and we were able to witness that change firsthand. Participants explored strategies for coping with stress, techniques for improving sleep, and ideas for staying physically active. They also reflected on the importance of creativity, spontaneity, and cultural and social participation in community life.
Over time, the group became a safe and caring space built on trust, encouragement, and shared understanding. At the final meeting, participants shared that they had become close friends and were ready to support one another even after the group had ended.
As one participant shared, "These groups were important to me because of mutual understanding, the opportunity to communicate freely and safely, and in my native language".
For us, this experience was another reminder that recovery starts with a sense of belonging and hope.
Yesterday at HUG, we organized a football broadcast for our Swedish and Ukrainian fans. It was an extraordinary evening of unity of the yellow-blues — emotions, support, and a real sense of community. About 50 people came and donated to our collection for evacuation vehicles for medics on the front.
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Sweden's State Secretary Karin Juhlin to Hug (Help Ukraine Gothenburg). Our team had the opportunity to present our work and share the current situation and challenges that Ukraine and Ukrainians are facing today.
We sincerely thank Karin Juhlin for the visit, the support, and the recognition of our work. We are looking forward to continuing the dialogue and strengthening our cooperation to support Ukraine.
Part of the school furniture donated by Alingsås kommun, Alingsåshem, and Sweco through HUG has now been installed in a kindergarten and a shelter in the Kharkiv region.
Desks, chairs, tables, and cabinets from the former Ingared school in Alingsås are now being used by children who continue their education despite the war. For many communities in eastern Ukraine, schools and kindergartens operate in damaged buildings or underground shelters due to constant security risks.
It is heartwarming to see these materials being reused to support Ukrainian children. We are deeply grateful to our Swedish partners for making this possible and to our local teams for ensuring the equipment reached the classrooms and shelters safely.
“We work with many different types of support, both for Ukrainians in Sweden and for those who remain in Ukraine. This includes humanitarian aid such as medicines and hygiene products, as well as psychological support for Ukrainians living here in Sweden. We also support war veterans who have lost limbs and received prosthetics, helping them recover and return to a normal life,” says Mykola Ivkin, Project Manager at HUG, together with his colleague Olena Petrus.
In total, more than 60 pallets will be transported to Ukraine, and half of the cargo — including equipment and school furniture — has already reached one of the most heavily affected regions of the country.
“Many schools in Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged by Russian attacks, and the front line is constantly shifting. As a result, education often has to take place underground, in shelters, to keep children safe,” says Mykola, continuing:
“Thanks to our donors, who help collect and organize everything here, we are able to send equipment to the Kharkiv region — an area that has been severely affected by the war. The furniture from Ingared School will be of great use there.”
Behind the wheel are often Ukrainian drivers who have a deeply personal motivation to help.
“We had a driver who almost loaded the entire truck by himself because he was from a region that had been under occupation. He knew what this meant.”
Mykola explains that despite the war, it is still relatively safe to remain in the country — but civilians are frequently targeted. Due to constant attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure, people must always be prepared for air raids and bombings.
“This is a full-scale war, but many people continue to live their lives. Children go to school, adults work, and people still meet for coffee. After a bombing, a grocery store often reopens immediately. This is part of Russia’s strategy — to destroy our everyday life. So continuing to live as usual is also part of our resistance,” he says.
Also present at the fire station is Karin Hallingström, Recycling Coordinator at Sweco and consultant for Alingsåshem. She explains that the demolition of the old Ingared School became the starting point for a new reuse initiative.
“I saw that there was great potential for reuse. Since then, we’ve been able to implement some reuse solutions, but above all, there was still a large amount of furniture and interior materials left. That’s when we realized it was far better to send them to Ukraine than to throw them away,” she says.
Call to Action
Ukraine continues to need support — and together, we can make a real difference.
👉 Support Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) by donating, partnering, or volunteering. 👉 Help us deliver critical aid, support mental health programs, and rebuild lives. 👉 Every contribution matters.
Join us in standing with Ukraine.
Learn more – https://www.lokalpressen.se/skolmobler-fran-ingared-far-nytt-liv-i-ukraina-6.2.3770.231e7c40dd
This article is about Ukrainian children who, despite everything, continue to learn, grow, and dream. And about the adults who are by their side, so that no one has to do it alone. At HUG, we believe that real change happens where there are shared values and genuine trust. That is exactly what brought us together with Star for Life Ukraine – a shared vision of what tomorrow could look like. We both believe in creating safe environments where young people can learn, find inspiration, and take their first steps towards a new future. When those forces meet, doors that previously seemed closed forever open.
“One of the areas of our work at HUG is creating a safe space where young people can gain knowledge, find inspiration, and take the first steps towards a new profession,” notes the representative of the organization, Yehor Suslenko.
The results are spot on. In the eyes of children, something new ignited. That moment when learning stops feeling like a duty - and starts to feel like something that really matters.
This is a place where children find faith in themselves, feel seen, and know that they are not alone.
Thank you, Star for Life Ukraine, for your trust, your openness, and this collaboration.
When you become a monthly donor, we want to say thank you — with something made in Ukraine, by Ukrainians. Every new monthly donor giving 350 SEK or more will receive a complimentary pack of Ukrainian specialty coffee, shipped straight to your door.
It's a full-bodied coffee where elegant notes of hazelnut meet the sweetness of dark mulberry — crafted with care in Ukraine and brought to you as a small token of gratitude for your big-hearted support.
Every donation creates real, lasting change. HUG takes 0% in administrative fees — meaning every single krona of your monthly donation goes directly to humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
Thank you for your support - together we make a difference. 💙💛
Thanks to the support of our partners, HUG delivered another batch of tourniquets to Ukraine. A tourniquet is a simple strap that stops life-threatening bleeding by cutting off blood flow to an injured limb.
Applied in seconds, it keeps someone alive long enough to reach proper medical care. On the frontlines, where ambulances can't always get through and hospitals are hours away, these simple straps give someone a chance to survive until help arrives.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported our fundraising campaign and helped us to provide more life-saving equipment.
Tax season is here and now is a perfect time to make a donation that counts — both for Ukraine and for your tax return.
Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) is recognized by the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket) as an approved donation recipient organization. This means that donations made through HUG may qualify for tax deductions in Sweden — both for individual donors and companies.
For private individuals, tax deductions may apply to eligible donations of at least 200 SEK per occasion, provided that the total annual amount donated is 2,000 SEK or more. If you donate through our Donation Page, the option for tax deduction is already built in. If you choose to donate via Swish or Bankgiro, you can submit your transaction details through our Tax Submission Form so that we can report the donation to the Swedish Tax Agency.
All information is handled in accordance with GDPR and submitted through the official reporting system required by Skatteverket. Read more about how tax deductions for donations work on the Swedish Tax Agency's website.
Thank you for your trust and support! Every contribution helps us continue delivering life-saving aid to Ukraine.
In February, Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) was honored to facilitate a unique initiative bringing Ukrainian and Swedish medical professionals together. For over two weeks, doctors from Pavlohrad and Zaporizhzhia participated in a professional exchange at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, sharing clinical expertise and the practical realities of medicine in a war zone.
While the hospital exchange was the core of their visit, the HUG team invited the doctors to lead two community events that focused on both practical skills and personal stories.
First-aid workshop for Ukrainian youth
The doctors conducted a hands-on first aid workshop for Ukrainian youth in Gothenburg. The session was highly practical, covering CPR and how to respond if someone loses consciousness.
In which the youth could ask the doctors about their. A major focus was placed on the correct use of tourniquets; every participant had the chance to practice, learning how to stop life-threatening bleeding and use improvised materials in a crisis. The atmosphere was warm and engaging, ending with a Q&A where the youth could ask about the doctors’ work in frontline mobile hospitals.
Open talk on 24 February: what it means to save lives in Ukraine today
On February 24th, we invited the doctors to share their journey with the Swedish community. They spoke openly about their path into military medicine and its differences from civilian practice. They walked us through the difficult "medical chain" — describing the journey a soldier takes from the moment of injury on the battlefield to stabilization, evacuation, and the long road of rehabilitation.
The conversation was honest and deeply personal. Besides their professional experience, we asked the doctors what helps them stay focused under such pressure and continue their vital work. They shared that they are sustained by teamwork, by the humor that becomes an inseparable part of working in extreme conditions, by phone calls home, and by the knowledge that they will see their families — twice a year. And by something else: the awareness that even far from the frontline, there are people who care, and who continue supporting Ukraine.
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to facilitate this dialogue between Ukrainian and Swedish colleagues. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the doctors for their openness and dedication. Together, we build more than partnerships — we build mutual understanding.
HUG hosted a session dedicated to the safety and well-being of Ukrainian children and teenagers in Sweden as part of our EmpowerHUB project.
We were honored to welcome Klas Friberg, former head of the Swedish Security Service (SÄPO) and the National Criminal Police, who shared his extensive experience with our community.
The meeting focused on the practical realities parents face when navigating a new society. Klas shared vital insights on how to help children understand their rights and responsibilities and how to protect youth from the risk of being influenced by crime.
The discussion also covered how to recognize early warning signs and where to turn for professional support to ensure a child's future in Sweden remains secure. It was a highly engaged session, with live translation into Ukrainian to ensure every parent could participate fully. We are deeply grateful to Klas Friberg for sharing his expertise and to all the parents who joined us for this essential conversation.
EmpowerHUB is implemented by HUG in partnership with Svenska kyrkan Carl Johans pastorat, and co-funded by the European Union through the Asyl-, migrations- och integrationsfonden (AMIF).
We are proud of our friends, partners, and participants who continue moving forward — even in the harshest conditions. Their stories are not only about resilience, but about redefining what is possible. And we believe these stories should be shared.
This winter, something truly remarkable happened. In the middle of snow and freezing temperatures, 46 veterans with amputations came together with more than 60 volunteers to organize winter kayak races. What might seem impossible to many became a powerful demonstration of strength, adaptability, and determination.
This initiative was not just about sport. It was about community, recovery, and reclaiming life beyond trauma. It showed that physical limitations do not define a person’s future — mindset, support, and opportunity do.
We are especially proud to see Viktor Drachuk, a participant of the Hug for Heroes program, taking the lead in this initiative. His role as an organizer and motivator highlights the true impact of rehabilitation and community support. Viktor is not only continuing his own journey — he is helping others believe in theirs.
At HUG, we see again and again how important it is to create spaces where veterans can rebuild confidence, find purpose, and connect with others who share similar experiences. This is exactly what our camps are about — not just recovery, but transformation.
These moments remind us that even in the most difficult circumstances, people can grow, lead, and inspire. And with the right support, even more becomes possible than we often think.
Four years ago, the night broke into explosions. The world woke up altered.
Four years of full-scale war is no longer a moment of shock. It is a reality children have grown up in, parents have aged within, and millions have learned to endure.
Recent months have been among the most intense in missile and drone attacks. Civilian neighborhoods, hospitals, and energy systems are deliberately targeted. Winter is weaponized again. When cities are left without heat and electricity, it is not collateral damage - it is a strategy. Cold is used as pressure. Survival turned into resistance. This war is not distant.
It is a test for Europe. Ukraine is not only defending its territory - it is protecting the stability of an entire continent. The fourth anniversary is not only about remembrance. It is about responsibility. We cannot afford fatigue. Evil does not stop with words - it stops with action. That is why we continue our work.
We deliver tourniquets and critical medical supplies. We help equip ambulances that evacuate the wounded. We support medical initiatives and rehabilitation programs. We stand beside veterans and their families as they rebuild their lives. This is our frontline. And it needs all of us.
When professional chefs and restaurant owners are mobilized into the military, they create solutions that rewrite the history of Ukrainian military cuisine. The Stambul foodtruck became one such transformative initiative.
Traditional field kitchens presented serious challenges: poor food quality, extremely low mobility taking up to 4 hours to relocate, lack of proper storage and refrigeration, and hygiene issues when cooking outdoors. The solution required resources and a community to make it happen.
HUG's Role in The Project
HUG joined the project, recognizing the importance of dignified living conditions for Ukrainian soldiers. We organized a fundraising campaign that brought together people from Ukraine, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, and Poland.
As a result of our collective effort, we were able to purchase the vehicle, transform it into a mobile kitchen, and deliver it to Ukraine. The foodtruck now operates in the Sumy region, feeding up to 200 soldiers daily.
The foodtruck is named after Kostia "Stambul" Yuzviuk, a military serviceman and civic activist who died in July 2024. The kitchen's motto comes from Kostia's own words:
"Seek motivation or become one for someone else."
This is our tribute to a true patriot whose values continue to inspire.
The project demonstrates what's possible when communities unite around a common purpose. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us with this initiative.
The foodtruck “Stambul” is just one example of what we can achieve together. Donate today and help us continue supporting Ukrainian soldiers.
Through close cooperation with Swedish hospitals and clinics, HUG – Help Ukraine in Gothenburg is preparing the shipment of 22 anesthesia machines to Ukraine - equipment that will soon be used where medical needs are most urgent.
The machines were generously donated by hospitals in Sweden following scheduled upgrades of their medical equipment. All units were in active use until recently and remain fully functional. They are identical models replaced as part of routine modernization, not because of technical issues.
“These machines are used during surgery so that patients can sleep and feel no pain. They have been in use here for about ten years and were still operational when we removed them,” says Fredrik Haarala, a hospital staff member involved in the handover.
The initiative is supported by regional hospitals in western Sweden and follows strict humanitarian principles: the equipment is donated solely for free medical use, without any risk of resale, and directed to regions where the need is greatest.
Swedish and Ukrainian volunteers from HUG worked side by side to receive, inspect, and prepare the machines for transport to Ukraine. For hospitals operating under the extreme conditions of war, anesthesia machines like these make it possible to perform complex and emergency surgeries - saving lives every day.
“It feels really good for us to send equipment that can still be used for many more years. If we can help, we should,” Fredrik adds.
Before the war, similar equipment was often sent to African countries. Today, the focus is Ukraine.
We are deeply grateful to the Swedish hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals who contribute to this cooperation. Thanks to them, international solidarity becomes real, tangible support - and lives saved.
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