Ukraine’s ‘volunteer army’ helps rebuild what Russia destroys

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports from Kyiv that Dobrobat, a Ukrainian volunteer reconstruction network whose name abbreviates “Battalion of Kindness,” moved quickly to help residents after a Russian missile attack on June 15 damaged homes in the capital. The outlet describes the case of Mariya Prokopchuk, a doctor in eastern Kyiv, whose apartment windows were shattered by the blast wave after one of dozens of missiles exploded nearby. According to the report, the attack killed five civilians, injured about three dozen people and caused fires, including at the Kyiv-Pecherska Lavra complex.

Within hours, more than 100 Dobrobat volunteers arrived with boards and power tools to clear debris and cover broken windows, providing temporary protection while residents waited for longer-term repairs. The group’s spokesman, Vadym Severyn, told Al Jazeera that Dobrobat has more than 55,000 volunteers and has helped repair homes for more than one million Ukrainians. He said teams are sent only after areas have been checked for unexploded mines and other dangers.

The report highlights that most Dobrobat members are Ukrainians, though foreign volunteers have also joined for extended stays. Al Jazeera names Lars Fersters, a retired Swedish blacksmith, and Jason Hercula, a hair stylist from North Carolina, among those helping board up damaged homes in Kyiv. It also notes earlier volunteer work in Irpin, where many buildings were damaged during Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Al Jazeera places Dobrobat within a broader Ukrainian volunteer movement that supplies civilians and soldiers with repairs, evacuations, medical needs and military-related equipment. The story underscores why these networks matter: in wartime conditions, volunteers are often portrayed as faster and more flexible than state agencies burdened by bureaucracy.