
The Latvians have been less involved lately in helping Ukrainians, as the war fatigue and domestic economic problems are taking their toll. However, the level of support is still high.
The first year of war: more than half of the Latvians donated for Ukraine
When the Russian massive invasion of Ukraine started on the 24th of February, 2022, Latvians gathered for the biggest rally since the restoration of independence in 1990. Under the slogan „Together with Ukraine, together against Putin”, 30 000 people, including native Russian speakers, participated in the procession on March 5, 2022. It was the beginning of a movement that saw thousands of people, companies, municipalities, and state institutions help Ukraine in all the possible ways – by donating money, supplying weapons and vehicles, hosting refugees etc. Alongside Estonia, Latvia had, in terms of GDP share, the highest contribution for Ukraine. That amounted to 0.9% of GDP in 2022, while in early 2023, the law on this year’s budget awarded 1% of GDP, or 370 million EUR in military aid to Ukraine on the consideration that the ability of the Ukrainian army to fight and defeat Russian troops is existentially important.
According to a survey from January 2023, by that time 56% of the Latvian public had donated money, clothes or other things to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees, while a different survey, published in April 2023, said that 41.9% of those questioned had made donations for the Ukrainians since April 2022.
Sociologist Martins Kaprans told Veridica that research shows that people still want to donate and there are no doubts among the majority of the population that Ukraine must win the war. Some would have liked to donate more, but their personal economic situation was affected by that of the country, which was affected, among other things, by a yearly inflation that sometimes exceeded even 20%.
Besides, it is not easy emotionally and psychologically to show empathy all the time. People get used to the conflict, or they get tired of it. Kaprans points out that even the media has decreased its coverage of the Ukraine conflict.
The sociologist explains that the attitude of Latvian society will be determined by the development of the war and events in Russian and less – in Ukrainian politics. If there are some sharp turns, society can react in a very active way, and on the contrary – if a protracted war continues, society will be, or appear to be, passive.
Donations in money, vehicles, and military equipment
The so-called „Tviterkonvojs” („Twitter convoy” in English) was born on the 2nd March 2022 when the leader of this movement Reinis Pozņaks asked people on Twitter to donate cars for Ukraine and its army. It didn’t take long to ship the first convoy of cars. Now, this movement works through the organization „Agendum” and it is possible to also donate money.
Pozņaks says that the aid to Ukraine is ongoing and every Friday some 20 cars are being sent to Ukraine via Poland. It’s less than the 40 cars that made it to Ukraine every week in the beginning of the war, and there was also a change in the type of vehicles being delivered – there are virtually no more SUVs, as they simply ran out. On the other hand, the cars donated by the public are now supplemented by those that are confiscated from drunk drivers.
In terms of money, the differences are even more striking. While now the donations amount to 30 000 EUR per month, on the first days of the massive invasion they were as high as 30 000 EUR per day. Most of the money goes for purchasing fuel; however, the organization buys and provides some military equipment as well.
Pozņaks admits that even for him the war has become a routine. But he is not going to stop his activities. „As long as there is something I can do, I will do it” he says, insisting that his capability to gain something depends on society’s attitude. If at the beginning of March 2022, people were more emotional than now, by donating they feel they are paying some kind of „war tax” and their actions and choices are more rational.
Pozņaks doesn’t know how long a „Tviterkonvojs” is going to exist. On the other hand, he reckons that there are some ideas and projects on how to help Ukraine after the war. For instance, because of the war many Ukrainians are people with disabilities, thus the special infrastructure will be in high demand.
Support for Ukrainian refugees
The „Tavi draugi” („Your friends”) is an older NGO, having been established in 2013 in the town of Engure, so that local youth could help the elders and families. The war made the NGO switch focus to Ukraine – welcoming refugees on the Latvian-Russian border with warm food, clean clothes, bed, and information about what to do next; sending donations to Ukrainian organizations that are distributing them to hospitals and other social institutions, but also sleeping bags for the army. The organization also helps Ukrainians study the Latvian language, and gets them together with Latvians at various social events, according to its representative of the „Tavi draugi” Beāte Bēvalde.
Bēvalde remembers that at the very beginning, Latvians felt the pain of Ukraine very sharply. „If we had two pots, one would be given to Ukraine,” she said. But in the summer of 2022, people went on vacations and holidays, the first shock was over and the numbers of those participating in „Tavi draugi” activities sharply decreased. People were tired and companies were not as responsive as before. Thus, since the fall of 2022, the organization has been doing different activities to attract donors – like selling some small jewelry or T-shirts made in Ukrainians. Bēvalde also points out that before in their warehouses, most of the volunteers were Latvians, while now they are Ukrainian refugees. Also, there is a shortage of pampers, hygiene products, and other goods.
Bēvalde is not hiding that people working for „Tavi draugi” are tired as well. But they are not going to give up. Just as Twitter Convoy, Tavi draugi is also looking beyond the war. „We are going to work as long as necessary,” she says. But after the war, „we can help to restore the previous life as it was before,” she adds.
One more non-governmental organization is „Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem” („Want to help refugees”) which started its work in September 2015. The organization works with refugees and asylum seekers not only from Ukraine but also from other countries, explains one of the leaders of the organization, Linda Jākobsone-Gavala. „Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem” has been involved in setting up a system that allows refugees children to study and adults to find a job in Latvia.
It’s not clear how many children that were not enrolled in Latvian schools are continuing their studies remotely in Ukrainian schools and how many are not attending any classes at all. Nor is it clear, because of the Schengen system, how many Ukrainians are still living in Latvia – their number is estimated at 30,000 but there are no definitive figures. There’s no longer a need to organize transportation from the border, but refugees still have problems – some need clothes for the coming winter, others didn’t find a place in the Latvian language classes etc.
Jākobsone-Gavala also noticed that Latvian society is not as active anymore as before when it comes to helping Ukrainians, but it would exaggerated to say that people do not care. „ This is not fatigue. I would say the society is busy with other problems as well”.
Since „Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem” works with refugees and asylum seekers, it is not going to participate in the restoration of Ukraine. However, the organization hopes that these Ukrainians who will go back to their country after the war can use the experience and knowledge gained in Latvia.