IZIUM, Ukraine — Hopes for victory, a quick conclusion to the ongoing conflict, and prayers for the safe return of loved ones are common themes found in letters sent by Ukrainian children from frontline areas to a volunteer organization. These children convey their dreams and fears through their writing, capturing the essence of their experiences during a time of crisis.
The volunteer group, affectionately dubbed the “Reindeer,” named after the mythical creatures that pull Santa’s sleigh, may not be able to fulfill every wish, but they focus on delivering tangible items like power banks to help families cope with energy shortages, bicycles, books, and even pets.
Each winter, this dedicated team ventures into some of the most severely impacted cities to bring gifts, ensuring that children in Ukraine can celebrate the holiday season, despite the circumstances overshadowing their lives. This year, the initiative received 2,310 letters from children, as noted by Inna Achkasova, the project manager for Ukrainian Frontiers, which began the St. Nicholas’ Reindeers program in 2015.
The children’s wishes are shared on the program’s website, where generous donors, referred to as “magicians,” select letters to fulfill the specific requests. Subsequently, the “Reindeer” volunteers take on the task of delivering these gifts personally.
“Youngsters have no say in their realities. No one checks with them about wanting to stay or leave,” states project psychologist Kateryna Shutalova. “What they endure is beyond their control, making them particularly vulnerable.”
Each child experiences only one childhood, even if it is marred by conflict. As such, their letters reflect a mixture of the harsh realities they face alongside universal childhood dreams. One boy articulated this by sharing, “My father is in captivity, and I live with my mother and brother. I love football and want a leather football.” This highlights the juxtaposition of normal childhood aspirations with the backdrop of war and loss.
Volunteers carefully read through the letters, absorbing the poignant narratives to ensure the appropriate gifts are matched to each child. Many of the children writing these letters have experienced tragic losses, witnessed destruction, or have been forced to relocate in the face of the conflict.
“What resonated with me was not just their wishes, but their profound need to share their experiences,” remarks Shutalova.
Dressed in festive reindeer antlers, the volunteers embarked on their mission on December 6, coinciding with Ukraine’s celebration of St. Nicholas Day. Their outreach will span multiple weeks, concluding around mid-January.
On a brisk winter morning in Kharkiv, with a fresh blanket of snow covering the ground, a convoy of volunteers departed in buses packed with gifts, heading towards Izium, a city previously occupied by Russian forces, located roughly 55 kilometers (35 miles) from active conflict zones.
Upon arrival amidst the festivities, the children initially display caution, their faces marked with a somber mood. However, as the celebrations progress, their smiles and spirits begin to lift.
One young girl, 9-year-old Alina Soboleva, appears somewhat detached as she observes the activities. Her grandmother, Svitlana Lokotosh, reveals that this reserved demeanor stems from the trauma of losing her mother and grandmother in a recent shelling incident. Alina witnessed the tragedy unfold from her window, which has left lasting scars on her psyche.
Having requested two pet mice in her letter, Alina expresses a simple yet profound dream amidst her grief. “Our only wish is for peace and quiet,” Lokotosh shares, highlighting her desire for safety and normalcy for Alina and the other children.
Shutalova points out the difficulty many parents face when discussing the war with their children, often stemming from fear or emotional exhaustion. “To process their experiences, children need to communicate through play and expression,” she emphasizes.
At the gathering, parents stand quietly on the sides, watching their children engage in laughter and play, mirroring the joyful spirit of childhood, despite the burdens they carry.
Among these parents is Anna Bolharska, 32, who shares that her family has been deeply affected by the war, having lost loved ones and seen devastation firsthand. After fleeing Izium in the spring of 2022 due to relentless shelling, they only returned following the city’s liberation last September.
“I try to block out those memories. It’s too painful to dwell on,” Bolharska states. “We focus on keeping the kids occupied and shielded from the worst memories.” Her daughter, Myroslava Bolharska, dreams of becoming a veterinarian and asked for a guitar in her letter, reflecting a shift in the dreams of many children in such trying times, as she noted the overarching wish for peace.
The Reindeer volunteers plan to journey through over 40 towns in the upcoming weeks, aiming to fulfill as many dreams as possible and spread joy—even when some wishes remain out of reach. “Some children wrote about wanting their childhood back,” Achkasova remarks, underscoring the volunteers’ commitment to ensuring that every child feels valued, listened to, and cherished amidst the turmoil.
