Courtesy Paige Murphy

One year ago, the people of Ukraine were invaded by Russian soldiers, who for the most part thought they were on a training mission. What they expected to last three days has long been recognized as war.

When the invasion hit, John Ballif and his wife Polina Piddubna found themselves packing up their California apartment. Within seven days they were in Ukraine with members of Polina’s family and friends.

Polina is from Kyiv and John served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine, though they did not meet there. From personal experiences, they have both seen what the needs of the people are, particularly as they prepared for Ukraine’s harsh winters.

“When I started out I didn’t expect to start a foundation,” Piddubna said. “But, it is better for them to tell us what they need and we can fulfill their needs and give relief.”

The couple stayed in Ukraine until mid-summer and then came back to live in Utah. They started the KLYN Foundation.

Courtesy Paige Murphy

“KLYN” is from Ukrainian. Pronounced like “clean,” it is defined as “a wedge” you would put under a door to hold it open. Even though it’s small, it can support heavy things, said Paige Murphy, a foundation team member and former LDS missionary to Ukraine.

While in Ukraine, the couple noticed there are many bigger nonprofits helping from neighboring countries like Poland and Moldova, but they didn’t seem to have ground presence in the country. They were supplying a large amount of help without direction, according to Murphy.

Now, a small group of their Utah County based nonprofits are in Ukraine, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and some former missionaries, said Piddubna.

“At this moment it is still winter. They need small things like hand and foot warmers, thick winter socks and sleeping bags that can go to sub-zero temperatures,” Piddubna said.

People send videos to KLYN from the frontlines, sleeping in sleeping bags in freezing trenches. They can also use portable camping stoves, thermal underwear and any supplies for winter and camping would help, according to Murphy.

Courtesy Paige Murphy

The KLYN Foundation does note maintain a physical presence in Utah County, they have only been on social media and have found people through word of mouth. Most donors at the time are Ukranian and may be in need themselves, according to Piddubna.

“We send things to Kyiv where we’re based and then they facilitate where it’s needed,” Piddubna said. Their two bases are Utah County and Kyiv, with the city’s LDS stake a major point of outreach.

“When the war started I was living in Los Angeles,” Piddubna said. “I couldn’t eat and sleep trying to reach out to family in Ukraine. Now we go back and forth. It’s important to check in person to person on what’s going on.”

It usually takes at least two full days to get to Ukraine, so John and Polina often take turns. They first fly to Poland, then go by train, bus or arranged pick up at the border.

“It has been hard on many of the former missionaries as they get photos or social media messages about seeing someone they taught has died,” Murphy said. “The foundation helps some of that helplessness.”

They also like to check in on their fellow LDS members to see how the buildings and temple are holding up.

“The Kyiv temple is open two days a week and is not damaged,” Piddubna said. “There is a lot of damage just 20 minutes away. A lot of rockets fell not too far away.”

Murphy noted that the damage sustained is hard to fix right now as they have no water or power infrastructure. It is urgent they get generators as well.

Murphy and Piddubna hope that residents in Utah County will see what they can give to a people who are uniting and fighting for their values and beliefs as they support their the country’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his fight against tyranny.

“He is a unifier,” Piddubna said.