
Disconnected helplines, undiagnosed HIV cases and unfinished classrooms: Ukraine counts the costs of USAID suspension
The Ukrainian NGO gets all sorts of calls. Some come from military families who have just found out their loved one was killed on the frontline. Some are from injured veterans who are struggling to cope with their return to civilian life or need help navigating the bureaucracy.
And some calls can save lives.
'Just a few days before the freeze, we had a request from a person who declared a suicide attempt and was seeking support, and we were able to provide that support,' Veteran Hub's co-founder Ivona Kostyna told CNN in an interview. 'We don't know how many of those (unanswered) calls were of that nature,' she added.
Kostyna and her colleagues had no choice but to shut the helpline down last month after receiving a stop-work order from the United States Department of State – a direct consequence of President Donald Trump's decision to suspend nearly all US foreign aid.
The freeze is already causing hardship across Ukraine, with lifesaving projects suddenly put on hold.
Ukraine has been by far the biggest recipient of USAID funds in the past three years, ever since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
According to the agency's now defunct website, USAID has provided Ukraine with a total of $37.6 billion in humanitarian aid, development assistance and direct budget support since the full-scale war began.
Trump and his allies have said the agency, created by the US legislature as an independent body, is overtly partisan. Opposition lawmakers and former USAID administrators from both political parties have rejected that assertion and called for America's foreign assistance programs to be protected.
After the European Union, the US is Ukraine's biggest donor of humanitarian aid, providing more than a quarter of all the country receives. It is by far the biggest donor of military aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his government was trying to find alternative sources of funding from within Ukraine and abroad. 'These are areas that the government cannot provide for because the government doesn't have enough money because the government is funding the army,' Kostyna said.
But the impact of the suspension goes way beyond the funding.
Kostyna said that many of the hub's employees are either the main or sole breadwinners in their families, which means they cannot afford to be on unpaid leave. Most are highly qualified, with years of experience.
'So not only would we lose that person but, if the funding comes back, we'd have to rebuild, and we would lose six months training the next person. This is why continuity is so important,' she said.
It's a similar story at the Vykhid charitable foundation, which focuses on HIV and tuberculosis prevention among vulnerable people. 'I'm losing qualified people, with a lot of experience,' its director, Olena Goriacheva, told CNN. She said that the freeze meant she had to let go of an experienced project coordinator for two programs funded by USAID.
Vykhid has been a USAID partner since 2004. It serves roughly 5,000 clients at any given time, including drug users, newly diagnosed people and long-term patients.
The foundation relies on USAID for more than half of its funding, although there were times in the past when it was its only source. 'We realized (then) that it is impossible to have only one donor for the organization to exist and we tried to have diversified sources of funding – thank God that we still have that,' Goriacheva said.
The foundation has had to shut down a key project focused on detection of new HIV cases since the freeze was announced, Goriacheva said. Ukraine has the highest prevalence of HIV in Europe and one of the highest outside Africa. The country experienced a rapidly spreading epidemic in the 1990s and, while rates have since dropped, early detection remains crucial.
'There are very few (people) doing this type of work. Doctors who worked with us for six years were receiving remuneration from us for any new patient they identified,' she said. 'Now that the project has closed, some of them have stopped doing this activity completely.'
The foundation also provides other assistance to people living with HIV. It received a request last week to cover the cost of an MRI scan for a severely ill HIV patient in an intensive care unit.
The hospital turned to Vykhid, but because of the stop-work order Goriacheva had to turn the request down. Thankfully, she said, the hospital was able to find funding elsewhere.
The sudden nature of the funding freeze has made the situation particularly difficult. The order came without warning, effectively pulling the plug on hundreds of projects across Ukraine.
Kostyna said that anyone working in the non-profit sector knows that funding sources can dry up. 'But it never crossed our mind that it could stop in a day. And it's not about the money, it's about the fact that we had zero warning, and we had no way to cover (the cuts) because we are not allowed to put money aside,' she said.
Goriacheva said that earlier this week, she was told by USAID subcontractors that some of the projects – those deemed essential – were being restored.
'Not in full. But those services that are vital are being restored,' she said, adding that she is now reaching out to her former project coordinators to figure out how to proceed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed last week that the US has continued to provide lifesaving humanitarian aid despite the freeze, but multiple USAID staff and contractors who have spoken to CNN say that's not reflective of the situation on the ground.
The rural community of Shevchenkove in the Mykolaiv region of southern Ukraine has been hit hard by the war. It was partially occupied for nine months after the full-scale invasion. The head of the local administration, Oleh Pylypenko, was detained by Russian forces.
Ukrainian forces liberated the area in November 2022, but the damage suffered during the occupation was extensive.
'Everything that was destroyed had to be rebuilt, and everything that was occupied had to be rebuilt,' said Pylypenko, who was released in a prisoner swap.
Health was a major issue for the community following the lengthy occupation, he said. Doctors and healthcare professionals funded by foreign aid money, including USAID, set up diagnostic clinics and have been distributing free medicines. All of the services that relied solely on USAID funding have now been suspended.
Pylypenko said he doubts that other international donors can match the funds previously provided by USAID. 'I think (the situation) is on the verge of a disaster,' he said, adding that even if the programs are restarted after the initial 90-day freeze announced by Trump, it will take much longer to get them back up and running.
This delay will have a significant impact on the community, he said. One local project funded by USAID was focused on setting up emergency educational spaces. These are fully equipped classrooms in safe locations with access to shelters, where children whose schools were destroyed can attend in-person classes.
One was opened recently in the region, and another was supposed to open in March. Pylypenko said the children who were due to attend had seen their original schools destroyed during the occupation, only for another at which they were attending classes to be hit by a Russian drone last summer.
Pylypenko now hopes they can have the new space ready for September, but if Trump's freeze is renewed, alternative funding will need to be found, 'God willing.'
But what worries Pylypenko the most is the freeze impacting Ukraine's access to the training programs provided by USAID. These tend to focus on local government, anti-corruption, efficiency and democracy-building, and they are key for Ukraine's future development, as well as its hopes of eventually joining the European Union.
'These were good training programs, plus there was exchange of experiences with the best communities, and the level (of performance) rose significantly,' he said, likening the USAID programs to the proverb about teaching people to fish, rather than just sending them fish to eat.
Kostyna first launched the Veteran Hub in 2016, after a firsthand experience with trauma. Her friend, 19-year-old Ustym Holodnyuk, was killed by a sniper at Kyiv's Maidan, or Independence Square, during the 2014 protests. She struggled for a long time without support.
'It didn't even (cross) my mind to reach out for help, to reach out to a psychologist. And now, fast forward 10 years, and the impact that we, among others, have managed to achieve is that there is a large change in how people perceive this, we see a rising number of veterans (who say) they trust psychologists,' she said.
Kostyna said that the consistency in the US foreign aid program meant that she and her colleagues were able to build something that was unheard of in Ukraine just a decade ago: a comprehensive veterans' affairs (support?) service.
'We now have taxi drivers bringing people in when they're in distress. So they would sit in a taxi, share their story, and the taxi driver would (make a detour) and bring them to us… they do this regularly,' she said.
Most of those working at the Veteran Hub are relatives of veterans, active service members, or people who have experienced trauma, she said. Like many in Ukraine, they are struggling to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck.
Yet when the stop-work order came in, staff at one of their two centers refused to leave.
'In the week of the freeze, when we didn't have funding, our Vinnytsia hub remained open, even though we couldn't pay our employees. They didn't receive (a) salary, but they all showed up to work on Monday, wearing uniforms, and they continued working,' she said.
There was some good news that week. After three days of intense fundraising efforts, the Veteran Hub managed to secure enough money to keep the helpline open for three months and get 14 people back to work. A few days later it received assurances from local businesses and the Vinnytsia city council that they will provide funding until the Veteran Hub finds a long-term solution.
The fact that she didn't have to shutter the hub was a lifesaver, Kostyna said.
'There are so many people who just turn up,' she said. 'There was a veteran who lost his documents, and he was referred to us because he was literally homeless, and he was looking for shelter and he needed medicine, and we were able to assist him.'
If the hub's doors were to close, people like him would find themselves with nowhere else to go.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Post
15 minutes ago
- New York Post
Trump assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh can represent himself at trial, federal judge rules
The man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump at one of his Florida golf courses last year was given clearance by a federal judge Thursday to represent himself in his upcoming trial. Ryan Routh appeared in front of U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce a day after his court-appointed attorneys asked to be removed from the case. However, Cannon ruled that Routh's attorneys must remain on standby and denied their request to be withdrawn. Prior to allowing Routh to represent himself, Cannon told him that his court-appointed attorneys 'will defend you far better than you can defend yourself' and 'I strongly urge you not to make this decision.' 'These are nice ladies… How [can] they defend me and say I'm not a dangerous person if they're afraid of me?' Routh said at one point. 'They don't appreciate me and they're afraid of me.' The attorneys described Routh's claims as untrue. The 59-year-old was wearing beige jail scrubs and appeared disheveled during the court appearance, during which he was taking notes despite being shackled at the wrists. 6 Ryan Routh was given clearance by a federal judge Thursday to represent himself in his upcoming trial. X/Ryan_wesleyrouth 'Mr. Routh has now refused six attempts from members of our office/the defense team to meet with Mr. Routh. As a result, undersigned counsel submits that the attorney-client relationship is irreconcilably broken. It is clear that Mr. Routh wishes to represent himself, and he is within his Constitutional rights to make such a demand,' the lawyers wrote in a filing late Wednesday night. The lawyers added that they went to speak with Routh on Tuesday at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, but were informed that Routh didn't want to meet with them. Routh is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms violations for the Sept. 15, 2024, incident in Florida, the second attempted assassination plot against Trump in a matter of months. 6 Ryan Routh was pictured following his arrest in Martin County, Florida, on September 15. MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE/AFP via Getty Images 6 The photo shows a sniper's nest that Routh made, according to reports. US District Court Southern Florida 6 Routh is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearms violations for the Sept. 15, 2024, incident in Florida. Martin County Sheriff's Office He has pleaded not guilty. Fox News Digital reported earlier this month that Routh wrote an unusual letter to the judge asking why the death penalty isn't on the table — and proposing that he be included in a prisoner swap with U.S. adversaries, even suggesting he be sent to freeze in Siberia in exchange for a Ukrainian soldier. 'Why is the death penalty not allowed? At nearly 60, a life of nothingness without love — what is the point? Why is it not all or nothing?' Routh wrote in the letter on the case docket. 6 Routh's assassination attempt was the second attempt on Donald Trump's life. Getty Images 'I had wished for a prisoner swap with Hamas, Iran… or China for Jimmy Lai or one of the 40 others, or to freeze to death in Siberia in exchange for a Ukrainian soldier… so I could die being of some use and save all this court mess.' He then sarcastically adds that the judge could send him away, which would give Trump a symbolic win. 'Perhaps you [Judge Cannon] have the power to trade me away… An easy diplomatic victory for Trump to give an American he hates to China, Iran, or North Korea… everyone wins.' 6 Prior to allowing Routh (pictured) to represent himself, U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon told him that his court-appointed attorneys 'will defend you far better than you can defend yourself' and 'I strongly urge you not to make this decision.' Routh blasted his legal team, accusing them of ignoring his questions, refusing to write to him, and undermining him. 'It was ridiculous from the outset to consider a random stranger that knows nothing of who I am to speak for me… I will be representing myself moving forward,' Routh wrote. 'They do not want the case and I no longer want to listen to how horrible a person I am — I can beat my own self up; I do not need help.' 'Best I walk alone.'


CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
US recalls negotiating team as prospects for a Gaza ceasefire dim and humanitarian situation gets worse
The United States is recalling its negotiating team from Doha, where talks on a ceasefire to end the war in Gaza have been taking place, with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff saying the latest response from Hamas 'clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.' Instead, the US 'will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,' Witkoff said in a post on X, without providing details on the alternative options. The public response from the key US negotiator puts the future of the diplomatic efforts in doubt. It stands in stark contrast to hints of optimism about the prospect of a deal being reached that were voiced by sources even after Hamas' latest proposal. A lack of ceasefire also threatens to prolong the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where scores of people are starving to death as Israel continues sharp restrictions on aid. Witkoff, who had traveled to Italy for consultations about the possible temporary truce, said that 'while the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith.' 'It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way,' he said Thursday. 'We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza.' Israel also recalled its negotiating team from the Qatari capital following the Hamas response, though an Israeli source said that was not an indication of a crisis in the talks. Instead, the team was called back because decisions need to be made regarding the state of negotiations that cannot be made remotely, the source told CNN. A separate official with knowledge of the talks had characterized Hamas's response as 'positive.' While there were still gaps between the sides, the official said there is 'growing optimism that the gaps are narrowing and a deal can be reached.' However, the prospects for a deal now appear murkier with the role of the US now in doubt. The people of Gaza, meanwhile, cannot afford to wait for an agreement to be reached in order to allow more aid into the besieged enclave. Despite the death toll from man-made starvation rising daily and increasingly dire warnings from international organizations, there are still Israeli government-imposed restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid. The US government had a dedicated official during the Biden administration working on issues of humanitarian aid access in Gaza, but no such official was appointed under the Trump administration. Rather than push for increased access to flood Gaza with aid, the Trump administration has hailed the role of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, suggesting it is the only effective means for distributing aid and stopping alleged widespread theft by Hamas.

USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Is Trump in the Epstein files? Before Bondi's reported alert, here is where he appeared
Fallout over Jeffrey Epstein has been propelled by reports that Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Donald Trump in May that he was mentioned in the criminal case files. The Wall Street Journal and CNN reported on July 23 that anonymous sources said Bondi told Trump his name appeared multiple times, along with other figures, in the government's files on the late financier indicted on sex trafficking charges. (Being named in the files does not mean he engaged in criminal activity, and a White House official denied wrongdoing, USA TODAY previously reported.) Bondi's Justice Department on July 7 released a memo saying no further disclosure of the documents was needed after teasing a "truckload" of Epstein files in March. In a rare moment of discord among Trump's supporters, many Republicans have pushed for more transparency around the files. 'The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep," White House Communications Director Steven Cheung previously said. "This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about." But criminal investigations into Epstein spanned nearly 15 years, and Trump had already appeared in some evidence that has been made public. Here is what to know: See the list: Which MAGA supporters is Trump calling 'weaklings' over Epstein files? Is Donald Trump's name in the Epstein files? Trump had already appeared in legal documents concerning Epstein's crimes, but never in a way that implicates him. In the 1990s, Trump rode on aircraft owned by Epstein, according to flight logs released in two lawsuits. But that was 30-plus years ago. In Palm Beach County state attorney documents, an image of a message pad communication seized in a Palm Beach police search appeared, but there is nothing more than Trump's name and a phone number. Florida court has rejected the administration's call to unseal documents A federal judge in Florida on July 23 denied the Department of Justice's move to unseal grand jury transcripts from a federal investigation of Jeffrey Epstein as part of the first criminal case against him. U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg, formerly a circuit court judge in Palm Beach County, said in a memo on July 23 that her "hands were tied" and that the DOJ hadn't shown sufficient evidence to release transcripts related to a federal investigation of Epstein in the 2000s. The material sought in Rosenberg's court involved a 2006-08 federal investigation of Epstein that never resulted in an indictment. Part of the infamous "deal of the century," in which Epstein pleaded guilty to two state-court, prostitution-related charges, said that if Epstein followed the agreement that the federal charges would be dropped. Two other requests for related grand jury testimony are still pending in a Manhattan federal court. When was Epstein caught and first charged? A police investigation into Epstein began in March 2005 after a woman from the Palm Beach area in Florida said her 14-year-old stepdaughter had been molested by a wealthy man. In July 2006, Epstein was indicted by a state grand jury on a felony charge of soliciting prostitution, which did not address the 14-year-old victim's age. He was arrested and spent one night in Palm Beach County jail, released the next day on $3,000 bond. Epstein signed a non-prosecution agreement that was called the "deal of the century." He pleaded guilty in 2008 to solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor for prostitution. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail, where he was allowed work leave privileges six days a week/12 hours a day over the 13 months he served. When he was released from jail, he spent a year on house arrest but was allowed to travel anywhere so long as he returned in 24 hours. What was Epstein convicted of? Epstein never sat for trial, but he pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor for prostitution in 2008 in Florida. He was also a registered sex offender. He died in 2019, before he could be tried for sex trafficking charges in New York. He was found hanged in a Manhattan jail cell, and the medical examiner ruled it a suicide. Trump himself has cast doubt on Epstein's death. Contributing: Joey Garrison and Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @