I’m Anna Bowles, a Brit living in London where I work in any way I can to help Ukraine’s fight to expel the russian invaders: donate, fundraise, write, translate, protest and many other things. I’ve visited the country a number of times, and volunteered at places like free kitchens and children’s support programmes, as well as delivering aid and documenting people’s struggle with my friends the Freefilmers and others.
The picture shows me in September 2023 in the village of Blahodatne, Mykolaiv region, which was completely destroyed. Freefilmers were in town bringing the locals portable stoves so they could survive the coming winter. I like this photograph (by Yulia Appen) because I look like I’m slightly overwhelmed and don’t really know what I’m doing, but I’m determined to do it. And that’s a bit true for everyone fighting and working in or for Ukraine right now.
All content on this site is free, but if anyone does sign up for a paid subscription, the money will go to people in need in Ukraine. I do, however, have to pay about 20% of it in tax to the UK state as this is a commercial site. I also have a fundraiser for rural women in devastated communities here, and 100% of the money you donate there will go to Ukraine; I absorb the fees myself.
“Your blog is often very hard to read, but important to me that I do. Thank you.” - Nicola Morgan, paid subscriber.
