On February 24, 2022, the life of Ukrainians, as well as the whole world, changed forever. Early in the morning, while everyone in Ukraine was fast asleep, the "russian federation" attacked Ukraine. And for the third year in a row, "russian troops" loot and destroy our houses, burn to the ground or rob our fields with grain and wheat, continue to kill and torture our women and children. As of September 25, 2024, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the "russian federation" has fired more than 8,000 missiles of all types on the territory of Ukraine. And first of all - for the civilian population of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the "russian federation" has damaged or completely destroyed the buildings of more than 2,800 educational institutions, damaged more than 1,600 Ukrainian medical facilities, and completely destroyed more than 214. We are talking about hospitals, outpatient clinics, polyclinics and maternity homes. About 5,000,000 Ukrainians lost their homes, which were reduced to ruins or burned down by their enraged northern neighbor. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General (OGPU), a total of 11,673 Ukrainian civilians were killed from the beginning of the "russian" invasion until the end of 2023 as a result of constant "russian" shelling and bombing. Including children. Europe has experienced the biggest refugee crisis since World War II.

All over Ukraine there are many wonderful cities and towns, such as Mariupol, Bucha, Irpin, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Kramatorsk, Bakhmut, Vugledar, etc., which were completely or partially wiped off the face of the earth as a result of "russian" aggression. We decided to preserve the information and photo gallery of our beloved and completely bombed Ukrainian city of Mariupol by "russian troops" as a reminder of its pre-war beauty; the city where one of our colleagues used to live, who managed to escape from the city with her family in the midst of an attack by "russian troops".

However, now, more than ever, the strength of the Ukrainian people, who united to oust the enemy from our land, is more clearly visible. We stand for our country, for our families and friends, for the freedom and future of Ukraine, for our language and culture, and we believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which protect us every day and give us a chance and hope to continue living.

This war with "muskovy" (now - the "russian federation") did not start today, when the whole world found out about this war and at a slow pace, but it supports our country in the struggle for its existence. And not in the year 2022, when the surprised Democratic World began to understand that this "monster", the "russian federation", armed with impunity and the inaction of such world structures as the UN, climbed out of its medieval cave and showed its bloody bestial grin. And this war did not start in 2014, when the "russian federation" wrested parts of the territories of Ukraine, in particular Crimea, from the weakened by the activities of the pro-Moscow leaders of Ukraine. The Democratic World then, as in the case of Georgia, pretended that it was not on Earth, it remained silent, and continued to feed the "monster" with billions of dollars, which it spent at a frantic pace to prepare for the capture and absorption of the entire territory of Ukraine. And this war actually began almost 400 years ago, when "muskovy" by deception, lies, bribery and force "joined" the left-bank Ukraine and set for herself the goal of destroying the entire Ukrainian people and appropriating the Majestic more than a thousand-year history of Ukraine-Rus.

ARKTUR and DMC tour operator (together with ASLA Travel Group - the headquarters of our group of companies), despite the war, continues to work in Ukraine to receive foreign tourists and tour groups. During the war, our activity as an Incoming Tour Operator continues its tradition of being a reliable and responsible performer for our clients and partners.

We invite you to take part in raising funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to help Ukrainian families who suffered during the "russian" full-scale invasion, as well as for the protection, medical assistance and restoration of Ukraine. This will bring the time of Ukraine's victory over the "russian federation" closer, and will make the visit of our country by foreign tourists brighter and full of positive impressions.

If you want to donate, here are several links to official fund raising organizations:

• Support Ukraine’s Armed Forces: https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi
• Support Ukrainian Refuges: https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/ukraine-emergency-fi
• Defence, Medical Aid, Rebuild Ukraine : https://u24.gov.ua/

In case you are located in the UK and would like to donate, please visit the web site of our group of companies, ASLA Travel Group at aslatravelgroup.com that is actively raising funds to support Ukraine.