Dobrobat: Ukraine's Kindness Battalion Rebuilds Kyiv
Dobrobat Volunteers Mobilize to Rebuild Kyiv Homes After Devastating Russian Missile Attack
Anonymous
Key Points
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The June 15 Kyiv attack involved up to 70 missiles, with one exploding above Mariya Prokopchuk’s building and debris landing in a nearby algae-covered pond, near ducks in the water.
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The Kyiv-Pecherska Lavra, a landmark described in some outlets as Ukraine’s Vatican, was among sites hit by fires during the attack.
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Dobrobat is described as Ukraine’s largest volunteer army, with a commitment that 100 percent of people who asked for help receive it, regardless of the size of the request.
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Dobrobat’s volunteers come from three dozen countries, including participants like Lars Fersters, a 70-year-old Swedish blacksmith; they communicate with residents via translation apps and perform quick fixes while planning longer-term retrofits, with prior work in Irpin in 2022.
A Russian missile barrage struck Kyiv on June 15, killing five civilians and wounding dozens more, according to Al Jazeera. Up to 70 missiles were fired in the hours-long assault, sparking fires at the Kyiv-Pecherska Lavra — a landmark sometimes called Ukraine's Vatican — and shattering hundreds of windows across eastern Kyiv.
Within hours of the attack, more than 100 volunteers from Dobrobat — Ukraine's largest volunteer army — arrived to board up shattered windows and protect damaged apartments from looting. The rapid response drew attention worldwide, showing how civilian-led aid now runs alongside official repair efforts on the ground.
Missiles Strike Kyiv, Fires Reach Historic Monastery
One missile exploded directly above resident Mariya Prokopchuk's building, Al Jazeera reported. Debris rained down and landed in a nearby algae-covered pond — close to ducks in the water. The blast shattered hundreds of windows across the area and left many apartments open and exposed.
Fires broke out at the Kyiv-Pecherska Lavra, one of Ukraine's most sacred religious sites. The attack was one of the largest on the capital in recent months. Five civilians died and roughly three dozen more were injured, according to Al Jazeera.
Dobrobat's 55,000 Volunteers Mobilize Within Hours
Dobrobat, whose name translates as the Battalion of Kindness, sent more than 100 volunteers to affected buildings the same day as the attack. The group has more than 55,000 volunteers and has already helped restore homes for over one million Ukrainians, according to Al Jazeera.
Workers arrived with honey-colored boards and quickly covered blown-out windows to keep apartments safe and dry. The group's policy is firm: 100 percent of people who ask for help receive it, no matter how small the request. Residents described the volunteers as skilled and tireless.
Swedish Blacksmith Among Dozens of Foreign Volunteers
Dobrobat draws volunteers from more than three dozen countries. One of them is Lars Fersters, a 70-year-old blacksmith from Sweden. He and other international workers use translation apps to talk with residents and carry out repairs on the spot, Al Jazeera reported.
The group did similar work in Irpin in 2022, early in the full-scale war. Quick fixes come first — boarding up windows and securing doors. Longer-term retrofits are planned for later. The presence of foreign volunteers underlines how the effort has grown far beyond Ukraine's borders.
Community Response Fills Gaps Left by Formal Repairs
Official repair crews cannot always respond fast enough after large attacks. Dobrobat steps into that gap. By boarding up damaged units right away, volunteers stop looting and keep residents from being displaced, according to Real Hacker News.
The June 15 attack is one more test of that model. With each new strike, the volunteer army grows more practiced. For many Ukrainians, Dobrobat has become as essential as any government service — a sign of how deeply civilian aid is now woven into the country's survival.
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