Portraits from Ukraine: An aid worker who persists despite personal tragedy

Last year, humanitarian worker, Olha Kartashova, from Kherson experienced an unimaginable loss, when her mother was killed by a shrapnel from an exploded tank shell. Yet she continues to help people in her hometown — guided by the values her parents taught her: always help others. 

“My decision to become a humanitarian worker comes from my mother,” Olha said. “She showed me by example how important it is to help people.” 

 Her mother worked as Vice-Rector at Kherson State Agrarian University and was known for supporting students and colleagues. 

“Even after she left her position, she continued helping people,” Olha recalled. “My father was the same — he never refused anyone who needed support.” 

Before the full-scale invasion in 2022, Olha, was an Associate Professor and taught management and public administration at the university. 

“The war changed everything,” she said. 

Becoming an aid worker

Today Olha works with the local non-governmental organization, The Tenth of April, helping civilians survive in frontline Kherson — a city that remains under constant daily shelling.  

As the Regional Implementation and Quality Assurance Officer, she conducts monitoring visits to communities affected by hostilities, meets with residents to understand their needs and helps them connect to access humanitarian assistance. She works with local authorities, civil society groups and volunteers to ensure people know where they can access support and protection services.

The organization provides legal consultations, psychological support, assistance for survivors of gender-based violence, child protection services and social support for older people and persons with disabilities.

“People come to us when they cannot solve their problems on their own or through institutions,” Olha explains.

In March 2026, Olha spoke with Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, sharing firsthand the challenges aid workers face near the front line and the importance of continuing support for affected communities. 

Personal loss 

 Working in Kherson means constant risk. Drone attacks and artillery strikes are frequent, and humanitarian teams follow strict security protocols. 

“Unfortunately, humanitarian status does not protect anyone from attacks,” Olha said. 

She learned this in the most painful way. 

On the morning of 24 November 2025, Olha and her mother were walking to work together. 

“I told my mother she should work less and take care of herself,” Olha recalled. “But she answered: I can’t, my daughter. I have a responsibility to people.” 

 Moments later, an explosion struck behind them. 

 “One of the fragments pierced my mother’s heart,” Olha said. “She died instantly.” 

Olha herself was wounded. 

“I was bleeding, but I didn’t even feel it. Two more strikes followed. I lay on the ground and tried to think about what to do — try to save my mother, call an ambulance, call the police.  It all felt automatic, unreal.” 

She was later taken to hospital. 

“One of the hardest moments was telling my father and my 95-year-old grandmother what had happened,” she said. 

Caring for others 

 Caring for her family and the support of colleagues helped Olha begin to cope with the loss. 

 “We are all humanitarians. We know how to stand together for people,” she said. 

Despite the risks, she has never considered leaving. 

“Someone has to stay and support the vulnerable people who remain here,” she said. “When even one humanitarian leaves, it creates a gap in assistance.” 

Today, Olha continues her work — meeting residents and helping them access support. 

For many people who remain in Kherson, humanitarian aid is not just assistance — it is a lifeline. 

More than four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion—and 12 years since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2014—the crisis continues to cause widespread suffering across the country, with thousands killed, millions displaced, and extensive destruction.

In 2026, 10.8 million people need humanitarian assistance. The Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires US$2.31 billion to reach 4.1 million people.