“We know that when this war is over, we want to return to Ukraine — and visit all the places we have been to.”

These words from Swedish volunteers perhaps best capture the atmosphere of the meeting held at the Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden on 30 September.

Ambassador of Ukraine Svitlana Zalishchuk and the Embassy team met with representatives of 16 Swedish civil society and volunteer organisations that support Ukraine every day: Insamlingsstiftelsen Sverige-Ukraina, Filippus Human Aid, Swedish Rescuers, Hjälp till Poltava i Ukraina, Insamlingsstiftelsen Blåljus I Samverkan, Karavanen till Ukraina Sverige, EnerAid – Energy for Good, OperationAid, Skicka vidare till Ukraina, Quartermaster for Ukraine, Aktionsgruppen Ryssland ut ur Ukraina, Föreningen Svenskbyborna, Insamling till Ukraina, Power Up Ukraine, Blågula Bilen and OperationChange.

This was the first meeting of its kind — an opportunity not only to express our gratitude, but also to hear directly from the people behind the enormous amount of support delivered to Ukraine.

Each organisation has its own story, areas of work and motivation. Some began supporting Ukraine after the full-scale invasion in 2022, while others had been supporting our country long before that. For some, the connection is deeply personal and even linked to family history. They have visited Ukraine over the years, including Zmiivka — the former Swedish settlement of Gammalsvenskby — or have family roots connected to Ukraine. After 2022, many of them significantly expanded their efforts, and their support for Ukraine became larger and more systematic.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, these organisations have provided millions of Swedish kronor worth of assistance to Ukraine. Behind these figures are thousands of concrete items and thousands of hours of work: first-aid kits, tourniquets, medical equipment and protective gear for our defenders on the frontline; vehicles, generators, power banks and energy equipment; ambulances and fire engines.

They provide humanitarian aid to civilians, support frontline towns and communities, Ukrainian hospitals and the healthcare system, and help Ukrainian children, including children from frontline regions.

Some volunteers also work to prepare civilians for crisis situations. They organise training sessions on how to stop severe bleeding, respond to emergencies and act in the event of drone attacks.

Others organise rallies and demonstrations in support of Ukraine, hold awareness-raising events and initiate symbolic renaming of public spaces in Stockholm — helping to keep Ukraine in the focus of Swedish society and reminding people every day that the war continues and that Ukrainians are still fighting for their freedom.

Many of these organisations work directly with Ukrainian partners, hospitals, communities and military units. Volunteers receive information directly from our defenders about what is needed on the frontline and try to deliver exactly what is required at that moment.

Some of them personally get behind the wheel and drive humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including to frontline communities, putting their own safety and lives at risk.

Behind all this work are ordinary people. They raise funds, approach public authorities and municipalities, seek private donors, engage partners from other countries, find the equipment that is needed, pack and load humanitarian shipments, repair vehicles and set off for Ukraine.

They do all this in their spare time, often alongside their regular jobs and everyday lives.

And perhaps this is what impressed us most — not only the scale of their support, but the humanity and commitment of people who have chosen not to stand aside.

During the meeting, one of the volunteers shared words that particularly stayed with the Embassy team. He said that what they value most is not only the opportunity to help Ukraine, but also the community and friendships they have found along the way.

In Ukraine, they are welcomed not simply as people bringing aid, but as friends.

“We really feel this connection with everyone we meet. We have found friends there for life. And we know that when this war is over, we want to return to Ukraine and visit all the places we have been to.”

Friends for life.

Perhaps these words best explain how, over the years of war, humanitarian support has grown into something much greater — a personal connection between people, communities and countries.

Because behind every vehicle, generator, first-aid kit or humanitarian shipment there is someone's decision to help, someone's desire to stand by Ukraine, and someone's conviction that Ukraine should not be left alone.

For the Swedish organisations themselves, the meeting was also an important opportunity to get to know one another, exchange experience, ideas and contacts. For some, it was the first time they had met.

We agreed to hold such meetings every year — to better coordinate our efforts, discuss Ukraine's current needs, exchange experience and jointly explore new opportunities to support Ukraine.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who supports Ukraine in Sweden. Thank you for the time, energy and resources you devote to this cause, for the thousands of kilometres you travel to Ukraine, for the risks you take, for every humanitarian shipment and every Ukrainian community you support.

Thank you for helping Ukraine not only with words, but through concrete action.

And, most importantly, thank you for turning your support into something more than assistance — into genuine friendship.

Ukraine will never forget it. 🇺🇦🇸🇪