“Frontline Evacuations in Ukraine at Risk as Critical Aid Freezes” PAVLOHRAD, Ukraine (AP) — In what was once a concert hall in this eastern Ukrainian town, cots now line the stage. Instead of music, the room echoes with the subdued cries of local residents displaced by the ongoing conflict with Russia spanning nearly three years. Recent advancements by the Russian army have engulfed towns and villages in the region, prompting the Pavlohrad concert hall to be repurposed as a temporary refuge for civilians fleeing the relentless Russian assaults. “It’s a relief to be here. There’s food, warmth, and facilities to freshen up,” remarked 83-year-old Kateryna Odraha, who survived the Nazi occupation during World War II. However, the future of this sanctuary now hangs in the balance. Running the shelter costs around $7,000 a month, with 60% of the funding originating from U.S. aid earmarked for Ukraine. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to freeze humanitarian assistance for 90 days has reverberated far beyond Washington, affecting places like this just a few kilometers from the front lines in eastern Ukraine. The abrupt halt to thousands of U.S.-backed humanitarian, development, and security initiatives has had global ramifications. Illia Novikov, coordinator of the Pavlohrad transit center managed by Relief Coordination Center, noted, “This announcement caught us off guard. We are uncertain about what lies ahead.” The U.S. funding covered various necessities like fuel for evacuation vehicles, staff salaries, legal and mental health support, and transportation for evacuees to safer destinations. Normally, the shelter aids around 60 individuals daily, but during heightened Russian bombardments, that number can soar to over 200, according to Novikov. Many arriving at the center have endured months in their basements, lacking electricity, water, or sufficient food. Vasyl Odraha, 58, and his elderly mother stayed in their village despite escalating artillery strikes and Russian bombings drawing nearer. He initially clung to hope that Trump, as promised in his campaign, would swiftly end the conflict upon taking office. “We were counting on Trump,” he shared, seated beside his mother on a cot. When the violence persisted and the front line crept within 3 kilometers (2 miles) of their home, they fled at dawn, narrowly escaping peril. Amid the aid freeze, various sectors across Ukraine are grappling with additional burdens, further straining the country’s already stretched wartime finances. Energy initiatives, veteran support programs, mental health hotlines, cybersecurity efforts, healthcare services, independent media outlets, and border infrastructure projects have all been impacted. The aid was crucial in mitigating the war’s toll. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine anticipates a reduction of $300-400 million in aid, primarily affecting the energy sector targeted by Russia. The country is seeking to fill
“Evacuations will persist for an extended duration,” remarked Novikov, the coordinator of the transit center. “There is a possibility of emerging front lines and additional impacted communities, necessitating our readiness to ensure ongoing support.”___The contributions of Associated Press journalists Samya Kullab and Susie Blann are duly recognized and appreciated.
