Energy terrorism against the civilian population is one of the Rashist methods of waging war against Ukraine, which has especially intensified with the onset of unprecedented cold weather. Unable to boast significant successes on the front line, Russia is trying to intimidate, break, and literally freeze the rear.
Since January 19, every day our researchers, photographers, and videographers have been visiting new locations in the urban landscape of Kyiv and the region – Points of Invincibility, heating points, tent settlements, as well as such events as self-organized “blackout parties”. Museum staff are collecting exhibits, documenting through photos and video how people survive in extreme conditions, their readiness to help one another, and their optimism despite everything.
We want to share what we have seen with you.
The Strategic Point of Invincibility – Field Kitchen B-50 – has been operating in Kyiv since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. It is a true skansen in the Troieshchyna district of the capital, which grew from a single military field kitchen and a couple of tents. The founders are the married couple Serhii Kuliasov and Viktoriia Yermakova. Behind Serhiy’s shoulders are the front line, combat trauma, an extremely difficult surgery, but already on February 25, 2022, his family turned to the Territorial Defense headquarters with the question: how can they be useful? The kitchen’s work began that same day with hot tea, and within a few days hundreds of people were preparing food that was delivered to territorial defense fighters and the military.
Since then, the field kitchen has not stopped working for a single day: they cook for a military rehabilitation center, the Desnianskyi and Dniprovskyi social services, and a foundation that cares for large families, emergency service workers who deal with the consequences of Russian attacks. During Kyiv’s “snowmageddon”, for several days they delivered food to tents and social centers – wherever it was hardest. Their team also travels to closed facilities to power engineers and State Emergency Service rescuers. Almost every day the field kitchen prepares over 300 liters of hot meals. At the same time, the volunteers continue making energy bars for the military and sending them to various front-line directions, as these are almost the only food that can be delivered to a combat position by drone.
Now, during severe frosts, there is even more work. Serhii Kuliasov directs all his energy toward uniting people in support of the Defense Forces and feeding those who, despite the frost, are returning light and heat to the city. But he admits that the most difficult thing this winter is the shortage of people. Therefore, the B-50 field kitchen team will be glad to welcome anyone who wants to warm their soul and has the opportunity to join this good cause!
