My brother Sasha joined the territorial army in Ukraine alongside other civilians in February 2022. He defended Kyiv in the first crucial months of the invasion. He is still serving, in the 104th Territorial Defence Brigade “Horyn”, but now - in an administrative role - documenting the killed, wounded and missing soldiers.

Since 2022, 176 of the brigade's soldiers have been killed. Around 200 are still missing.

I struggle to write those numbers. Because they are not numbers. They are men who had families. Men who built things. Cooked dinner. Drove children to school. Men who had plans, just like any man in Europe.

In Rivne, an Alley of Memory is being opened to honour each of them. Their portraits will stand there, so their names are not swallowed by time. For the opening, the brigade — together with their chaplain — wants to give every family something to hold onto:

A personalised brigade icon, “Forever in the Ranks.” A church medal issued in the name of their son, husband, father.

It will not bring anyone back. But memory is a form of dignity. They are raising up to 200,000 UAH (around £3,500) to create these memorial honours for the families. If you feel able, please contribute.

This is for the families who carry the weight of this war every single day.

Slava Ukrayini. Heroyam Slava.

Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes.

Olia Hercules and Sasha Hrebeniuk