LVIV, Ukraine–The executive director of a credit union in Ukraine is crediting assistance from the World Council and the fact its members are borrowing again for helping it to regain its footing and remain open as this country remains under attack from Russia.
Like everyone else in the country, Volodymz Sydozovskyy said Anisia Credit Union has been deeply affected by the war that is now more than 500 days old.
Stepping Up to Help
During a visit to the CU’s headquarters, which are in a building that dates to the 1300s in the city’s old quarter, he related a number of stories of how the credit union’s own members and employees have been providing help to refugees. One person had 18 people in his apartment building. Others helped refugees on their journeys to the country.
It also has a number of members who are in the Ukrainian army, and one member was recently killed by a Russian missile that struck this city just a week ahead of CUToday.info’s visit. Ten people were killed in that attack.
The credit union is small by U.S. standards, with assets of 50 million hryvnia, or $1.363 million at the exchange rate on the day Sydozovskyy was interviewed. Anisia Credit Union has 8,000 members.