Solutions to win: ‘Varti’ award honors Ukrainian volunteers for supporting frontlines and rear

On March 26, Ukrainian volunteers, charitable foundations, and public organizations received the "Varti" award from Nova Poshta. Ukrainians determined 12 winners through voting, while the organizer selected another 21 based on the quantity and weight of humanitarian shipments over the past year. These honorees include individuals and teams who assist the military, IDPs, children, and animals, facilitate evacuations from frontline zones, and save lives.

Rubryka reported this, referring to the communication partner of the "Varti" award, UK comms.

Winners

Over 55,000 Ukrainians participated in the "Varti" award voting process to select the winners. These winners, comprising 12 individuals and organizations from various fields, share a common goal: to help Ukrainians survive and move forward.

• In the "Oldest Volunteer" category, 77-year-old Hryhorii Yanchenko, known as Uncle Hrisha, emerged as the winner. During the occupation of Kherson, he was memorable for adorning his wheelchair with a flag and playing the anthem in crowded areas. Currently residing in Zaporizhzhia, Uncle Hrisha is rarely at home as he travels across Ukraine to raise funds for the army. He received the award in Kropyvnytskyi during one of his fundraising events.
• The youngest volunteers, 6-year-old Oleksandra (Sasha) and 4-year-old Kira from Kharkiv, were among the winners. A year ago, Sasha received the "Guardian" award, where she was surprised by a visit from her military father, who was temporarily released from service. Tragically, he died at the front a month later. Despite their loss, Sasha and her friend continue supporting Ukraine's armed forces by raising funds for essentials like camouflage nets, tourniquets, and vehicles. Sasha received this year's award on her father's death anniversary.
• Serhii Sternenko, the creator of "Rusoriz," received the award for technological innovation in volunteering. He continuously conducts FPV drone training and demonstrates its application on the front lines.

^{Serhii Sternenko}

• Mykolaiv blogger Yurii Stepanets, now living in Odesa, was recognized for creativity. Known as Ukraine's most famous wheelchair comedian, he organizes "non-running training" for the military. Stepanets often emphasizes that while not everyone can serve in Ukraine's armed forces, everyone can support them in their way, despite fatigue and losses.

^{Yurii Stepanets}

• Kateryna Andreieva was honored for evacuation efforts, rescuing wounded defenders alongside the military from the Sumy and Kursk border areas, and evacuating civilians and abandoned animals under fire. She dedicated her award to her father, who sacrificed his life for Ukraine. For medical assistance, Ukrainians recognized the paramedics from "Hospitaliers," credited with saving thousands of lives, while the "Veteranka" movement was acknowledged for supporting women.

^{"Veteranka" movement}

Also, the following were awarded:

• The all-Ukrainian charitable organization "Ukrainian Food Foundation" for supporting IDPs.
• Oleksandr Mizerii, leader of the "Smereka" band from Vinnytsia region, who has played over 350 charity concerts and raised over 4 million hryvnias for the Ukrainian army and for cultural development.
• Andrii Burakhovych, a mechanic who repairs cars for the front almost around the clock and has fixed over 2,000 vehicles, for helping the army with his own hands.
• Charitable Foundation "Children of Heroes" for providing psychological assistance to over 12,000 children who lost one or both parents due to the war.
• Anastasiia Sliusar the leader of a foundation that helps children, especially in frontline areas.

^{Oleksandr Mizerii and the band "Smereka"}

"Despite fatigue, difficulties, and losses, volunteers continue to move forward – they support those in need and find new ways to help. This is about humanity, indifference, and incredible strength. They work not for the sake of awards, but simply because they cannot do otherwise. We thank everyone and will always be there,"Inna Popereshniuk, co-founder of Nova Poshta, said.

Winners in terms of humanitarian cargo transportation

In addition to the volunteers and foundations voted for by Ukrainians, 21 more organizations and foundations received awards. Their organizers selected them from the database of Humanitarian Nova Poshta, counting the number and weight of shipments, categories of assistance, and their systematic nature. The winners were:

• Charitable foundations "On the Wave" and "Rii" ("Army Assistance").
• Charitable foundations "Kherson Medicine" and "Leleka-Ukraine" ("Medical Assistance").
• Charitable organizations "Ukrainian Sisters and KidFriendly" and "Spirituality of Ukraine" ("Help for Children").
• Public organization "Called to Live" and charitable foundation "Let's Help" ("Help for the Elderly").
• Charitable organizations such as "With Warmth in the Heart" and "European Traditions of Charity" ("Help for People with Disabilities").
• "Bakhmut Animal Protection Society "LADA" and Charitable Foundation "Together Good Power" ("Helping Animals").
• Public Organizations "Dobrobat" and "B50" ("Restoration of Housing and Welfare").
• Charitable Organization "Citizen" and Public Organization "Juniors" ("Sports and Rehabilitation").
• Charitable Foundation "Happy Paw" ("Leader among Freight Transportation").
• International Charitable Foundation "Nebaiduzhi" and Public Organization "Svidomi Kyianyi" ("The Largest Number of Rubber Shipments")

^{Charity Fund "Leleka-Ukraine"}

Two volunteers—Yuliia Kudryk and Oksana Mykoliuk—won the "Help Navigator" nomination for their active consultation and online support in transporting humanitarian cargo.

How the award was presented

^{Andrii Burakhovych, the group "Kurgan i Aggregat"}

Local activists, bloggers, opinion leaders, Nova Poshta representatives, and winning organizations' beneficiaries presented the awards in various Ukrainian cities. In Kyiv, the group "Kurgan i Aggregat," known for raising funds for Ukraine's armed forces during their tours, was present to honor the recipients.

For reference:

"Varti" is an annual award for the public sector from Nova Poshta. It was launched in 2022 to thank people who help without stopping and to support them.

It was reported that charitable foundations, public organizations, and volunteers who help during a full-scale war may receive the "Varti" award from Nova Poshta.