, a human rights activist and director of the Zvyano educational and social public association

, moved to Ukraine after her arrest and deportation.

She is now raising funds for the purchase of medical devices for the wounded and transferring them to the hospital.

They talked about how to help Ukraine and how Belarusians live there now.

Tatiana Gatsura-Yavorskaya (right)

Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya was detained in the spring of 2021 - a few days after the closing of the exhibition "The car breathes, but I do not."

The exhibition was organized by the educational and social non-governmental organization "Link" and dedicated to the heroism of doctors during the pandemic, it opened on March 30, 2021.

But on April 1, the sanatorium and the Ministry of Emergencies visited the area, found violations and ordered to close the exposition.

On April 5, 2021, a criminal case was instituted against Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya for "financing the riots."

First, Tatsiana was placed in a pre-trial detention center, then transferred to the pre-trial detention center № 1.

On April 12, they searched the apartment, deported Tatsiana's husband

, a Ukrainian citizen, and banned him from visiting Belarus for 10 years.

On April 14, Vladimir and his 10-year-old son Daniil were forced to leave Belarus for Ukraine.

Literally the day after her husband and son left, Tatsiana was released from Valadarka as a suspect in a criminal case.

She managed to get to Ukraine with her family almost a year later - on March 12, 2022.

"I could not stay in my homeland because my family was in Ukraine"

When Russian troops invaded Ukraine, Tatiana decided she should be with her family.

She understood that it would be impossible to help Ukraine from Belarus, because the detention of those who opposed the war began the next day.

Tatiana Gatsura-Yavorskaya

The road from Minsk to Lviv took a week - you had to get a Schengen visa, first get to Poland.

There were also problems with crossing the Ukrainian border with a Belarusian passport.

“I could not stay in my homeland because my family was in Ukraine.

There were problems at the border.

This was the beginning of the war.

It was very painful for the Ukrainians that rockets were flying from the territory of Belarus.

And at that time, it may not have looked so bright, but there were many Russian troops and weapons in Belarus.

You felt in the country that started the war with Russia, in the aggressor country, as if in the rear of the enemy.

These two factors - the family and the situation that you are in the rear of the enemy - pushed me to such a decision, "- explains Tatiana.

Finally she reached Western Ukraine, where her husband and youngest son were.

Purchased 23 VAC systems for wound healing with consumables

Tatiana immediately began to look for a niche - than to help the Ukrainians.

There were several announcements that medical equipment was urgently needed: special vacuum systems for wound healing.

"I first learned what it is, and then very quickly there was a collaboration of three organizations - we still know each other only virtually, but it was a very fast and successful collaboration.

As this is medical equipment, I turned to the Belarusian Fund for Medical Solidarity.

The Belarusian diaspora in Italy joined me as a representative of the Zvyano organization, which was liquidated in Belarus.

But we have already registered an organization with the same name in Ukraine, ”she says about her regular partners.

Negotiations with the manufacturer were held for a month and a half, money was collected for the purchase of equipment.

The money was transferred immediately to the account of the Belarusian diaspora in Italy, and they bought this equipment directly from manufacturers.

A total of 23 devices and consumables were purchased, some were transferred to military medical units and some to hospitals.

3 out of 23 vehicles have not arrived yet.

"Belarusians from Belarus" donated "- it was very touching"

In Ukraine, one such device without consumables costs 1,900 euros.

As the volunteers bought the equipment directly from the Italian manufacturer, each device was much cheaper - 1 thousand euros.

Plus, each device required consumables for at least 6 months of operation - 600 euros.

"Mostly" donated "Belarusians living in Europe, Ukrainians living in Europe, and Belarusians from Belarus.

It was also very touching, because everything is blocked and it is very difficult to make a money transfer from Belarus.

People were dumped inside Belarus and handed over in cash so that we could put them on the account.

There were also a few major sponsors, but they asked not to be named.

Even my 10-year-old son Danik saw what I was going through when the money was collected, and he transferred 10 euros from his pocket money to the device, ”Tatsiana said.

On June 3, volunteers took the last vehicles to Krapivnitsky.

Three devices were transferred to the intensive care unit of the regional hospital, and three more were left in the hospital closer to the front.

"There is no danger to get to Krapivnitsky, there is no fighting, the territory is controlled by Ukraine, just checkpoints that check who is carrying what.

But it is more difficult and dangerous to transfer from Krapivnitsky to Kharkiv or Kramatorsk.

Ukrainian volunteer organizations will be involved in this, ”Tatsiana says.

"There were times when it was really very scary for my son"

Despite the fact that Tatiana and her family live in western Ukraine, there are often air alarms.

Tatiana remembers how they once left their 10-year-old son at home and went to the city center.

“There was an air alarm (and alarms happen several times a day, people get used to it).

And we somehow "lightly" reacted to this alarm.

We heard explosions not far from our apartment.

We ran away, there was great fear.

The son was not particularly frightened, he even looked up as if something was burning.

But I was very scared.

Now we don't leave our son alone for even 5 minutes.

We noticed that if something happens, the son supposedly reacts normally, but then there may be some flashbacks.

It was the same after Danyk was expelled from Belarus.

Everything is not so simple, ”Tatsiana notes.

"We need to do what we do - be noticeable to Ukrainians"

Tatiana says she has never hidden that she is from Belarus.

She did not meet open hostility, but she remembers some unpleasant moments.

Somehow, while handing over the equipment to the military unit, she met a doctor from Irpin, who was under occupation.

“It was clear to him that all the Russian servicemen who committed atrocities in Irpian and Bucha came from Belarus.

The man personally experienced a lot, faced such horror, took his family out, rescued the wounded, he has so many emotions!

When I was leaving the military unit, this doctor from Irpen told me directly: "If I had decided, I would not have taken even a fleece and a bandage from the Belarusians."

Then he softened up a bit, they say, "you do not offend," - says the volunteer.

Then she joked: that, they say, he will have to suffer a little more Belarusians, because they will bring consumables.

According to her, emotions will soon subside.

“Now this doctor is facing other Belarusians.

We need to do what we do - be noticeable to Ukrainians.

I think everything will be fine. "

She corresponded with a Belarusian who was on Azovstal, served in the Azov regiment, and asked about relations between Ukrainians and Belarusians.

"Here is what he wrote about it:" All adequate Ukrainians understand what is at stake, so there will be no conflict.

As for the usual "button Internet warriors", I do not even want to think about them. "

I agree with this opinion, ”Gatsura-Yavorskaya agrees.

“The resorts have luxury hotels that are 90% empty.

And refugees could live there very comfortably. "

According to Tatiana, who has a lot of contacts with Ukrainians, they know little about what is really happening in Belarus.

"The first reaction is usually, 'Why didn't you drop your bloodthirsty puppet, Putin?'

Yesterday I had a very good conversation with the Ukrainians, who said that, they say, "I'm sorry it happened, but we hope that together we can overcome," - shares his impressions of contacts with Ukrainians Tatiana.

Most Ukrainians help to transport medical equipment to distant hospitals for free, while risking their lives, even with a shortage of fuel does not take a penny.

However, according to Belarusians, Ukrainians themselves have different attitudes to the war.

She somehow traveled around Transcarpathia, looking for a building, because the volunteers have an idea to create a rehabilitation center for the military.

“It was a very unpleasant impression for me that there are luxury hotels in Transcarpathian resorts, which are 90% empty.

And refugees could live there very comfortably.

But somehow it is strange for me - the owners of these hotels did not lend a hand to the refugees, "- she said.

But the fact that life returns to Kyiv, she is very happy.

Tatiana said that she was in the capital in March and April, and most recently, in late May.

“And I’ve just seen completely different cities!

Now Kyiv is very close to how I knew him before.

Life is coming back, people are coming home, there are already traffic jams, the subway is full, ”Tatsiana Hatsura shares her impressions.

It is very inspiring and reassuring.

“I am always with people who do something, help and who are in the mood to help and do.

They will win. "

Tatiana Gatsura-Yavorskaya is a human rights activist and organizer of the WATCH DOCS Belarus International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival.

Founder of the public organization "Link", which monitored the health care system in a pandemic.

In October 2021, "Zvyano" was liquidated by the Minsk City Court.

Tatsiana was detained in April and spent more than 10 days in jail.

Valadarski was released from the pre-trial detention center No. 1 as a suspect in a criminal case.

Now Tatiana Gatsura-Yavorskaya is volunteering in Ukraine.