Compassion During the Ukraine War

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

Jakub Jarowski

Until February 2022, Jacub Jarowski, 41, had no experience in volunteering. The Russia-Ukraine war has made him a volunteer. While receiving no compensation in any form, he spends his own money to rescue war victims in various parts of Ukraine.

Since early June 2022, Jacub Jarowski has remained in one of the subway stations in Kharkiv, around 480 kilometers east of Kyiv, Ukraine. When visited in early July 2022, he had just returned from the market. “I’ve bought sandals and drugs. Some refugees need them,” said Jarowski.

The Polish citizen left Lauceston in the United Kingdom in early March 2022 for a different purpose. Although he retains his Polish citizenship, he has lived in the UK since he was 22. Jarowski arrived in Ukraine along with several people he had known for a long time. Some of them had also invited others to team up. “We originally intended to join the foreign legion. We were convinced it was the best way of helping Ukraine,” he revealed.

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Before serving as a volunteer in Ukraine, Jarowski used to be a meat seller. He claims to be able to use firearms. He even carried camouflage uniforms and various kinds of equipment for disguise. “We don’t have the permit to for cross-border firearm delivery, let alone standard military firearms for warfare,” he said.

Jarowski could get this information because he had once worked in the security sector and still had many acquaintances in the industry.

From the information they had received, firearms could be obtained as soon as they reached Ukraine, so the group did not worry about what it would carry in the battlefield. Jarowski could get this information because he had once worked in the security sector and still had many acquaintances in the industry.

From the UK, Jarowski and his peers flew to Krakow, Poland. From Krakow, they proceeded to Jaroslaw, 30 kilometers west of the Poland-Ukraine border – the small district where his extended family comes from. Jarowski arrived in the district on 6 March 2022. Under normal circumstances, it takes 30 minutes on average to travel from Jaroslaw to the border. During the war, the trip takes a much longer time.

As a father of four, Jarowski was shocked to find so many children in refugee camps along the way. He witnessed the spectacle after decades of frequently hearing the story of his great grandfather who had to be a refugee while he was still under 5. “My great grandfather was from Kharkiv and evacuated to Jaroslaw at the age of 3,” he said.

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

Jakub Jarowski

Initially intending to join the foreign legion, the Arsenal football club fan decided to become a humanitarian worker. He turned all his fighting equipment over to the others who still wished to enter Ukraine as foreign militiamen.

Compassion

Jarowski’s main capital as a humanitarian worker is compassion. The other capital is his fluent English and Polish as well as his understanding of Ukraine-Polish culture. Compassion is his primary resource because it is his only reason to serve as a volunteer while receiving no payment. He has chosen not to join one of the international humanitarian organizations, but instead Mobilife, a local organization in Kharkiv. As a volunteer in Mobilife, he can get escorts to pass checkpoints when delivering aid packages to the frontline.

Some people refuse or are unable to take refuge although their homes are the target of bombing several times daily. They remain in need of food, drugs and various other necessities. Markets and shops are no longer operating so the only sources of supplies are deliveries by Jarowski and other volunteers. “On the border many people have provided aid. The frontline is just still lacking volunteers’ support. Different organizations are unprepared to send volunteers in for security reasons,” said Jarowski.

When delivering aid packages, there is the risk of Jarowski’s car getting shot or hit by guided missiles. “If this indeed has to occur, just let it happen. I’ve lived for quite a long time,” he pointed out.

To continue volunteering, Jarowski spends his savings. He has even sought funds from relatives and acquaintances to pay for the costs of refugees in Kharkiv. He chooses to stay with refugees in a subway station. In this way, refugees can at any time contact him when they need help.

His desire to help civilians, especially children, who were trapped there made Jarowski feel no fear whatsoever.

One of the cities that offers no chance of rescue for its residents is Mariupol, Donetsk. He entered when it was besieged by Russia. His desire to help civilians, especially children, who were trapped there made Jarowski feel no fear whatsoever.

In Mariupol, Jarowski delivered packages of food and medicine. After distributing the packages and exiting Mariupol, he took as many residents as possible out of the city now occupied by Russia. The sounds of explosions were part of his daily life in Mariupol as they are now in Kharkiv.

KOMPAS/HARRY SUSILO

Jakub Jaworski

Amid the blasts, Jarowski expresses his overwhelming compassion for the thousands of people he has just come to know. “I’m only an ordinary man. I cannot even raise donations because I’m not a celebrity. For me it’s no problem and there’s nothing to worry about. I’m happy I can help with all my limitations and capabilities,” he added.

Jakub Jarowski

Born: Jaroslaw, 25 July 1980

Occupations:

- Meat seller in Lauceston, the United Kingdom

- Informal security consultant

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira).