(Note: Greg Brock is an independent researcher/writer. He is a retired professor from the Georgia Southern University School of Business. He recently made his second visit to Ukraine in 2026 and he filed this report.)

Traveling west over 500 miles to Lviv in Ukraine, trains sometimes have at least one car with refugees fleeing the fighting from the war with Russia. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Volunteers at the “Bird of Ukraine, which is a non-governmental organization that is a non-profit, mission-driven entity that operates independently, meet the train in Lviv and help unload the heavy bags carrying much of what people own.

The station provides wheelchairs but is not well suited to disability access. Two organizations provide a space for mothers with children, and medical support, if needed.

Families lucky enough to have relatives in western Ukraine are assisted to the nearby bus terminal to make their way to relatives. Those without family are taken temporarily to local hostels and then on to “internally displaced persons” (IDP) shelters located throughout the region.

Some also choose to leave Ukraine entirely, but there is no volunteer support, as Ukraine needs all of its citizens to stay.

The terror of the war is shown in children’s art with a Ukrainian soldier on the shown defending against the Russian invaders who used the letter “Z” on their uniforms and equipment.