On February 24, 2022, millions of Ukrainians awoke to find their country under siege. For 66-year-old Olha, that morning marked the end of life as she knew it. “I woke up to a different world,” she recalls.

After narrowly escaping the missiles that rained down on her native city of Kharkiv, she and her family moved to western Ukraine. However, the sense of safety brought little comfort, highlighting the toll of war on older people—a struggle that often goes unseen.

Ukraine is home to the largest number of older people affected by conflict anywhere in the world—25% of the population. Many of them remain in or near conflict zones, facing devastating conditions without electricity, clean water, food, medicine, or connection with family.

Over the past two years, HelpAge has been working on the ground to provide critical aid to older people and ensure that no one is left alone, overlooked, or forgotten. Thanks to our incredible community of donors, partners, and individuals like you, more than 140,000 older Ukrainians have access to food, medicine, shelter, mental health counseling, warm blankets, and someone to help them get the services they need.

As we reflect on the impact of the last two years, we invite you to watch “We are still here,” a tender and moving portrayal of some of the older people who have stayed behind. You can view this short film and learn more about our work here.

With your help, we can make a difference for older people like Olha, who need your support now more than ever.