CLEVELAND, Ohio — For nearly a year Igor Koval from Parma has been back in his home country of Ukraine, dedicated to helping soldiers fighting on the front lines.
"When your homeland is being attacked in a most cruel way, you just feel that you have to do anything you can do to help to win this war and to bring the victory closer," Koval said.
He has been distributing donations directly to different battalions, wherever they are stationed.
"Sometimes I think they are made of titanium those guys, because its so tough over there right now. It's cold. It's shelling. It's shooting all over the place," Koval said.
His daughter Anastasiya has continued to collect donations here in Northeast Ohio to help her father's efforts, especially as it's gotten colder.
"Being in a trench when it's winter, you're cold, you're in constant fear of losing your own life, but you fear even more what happens if I don't succeed, the pressure of winning the war. So its psychological and physical for them," Anastasiya said.
Igor told 3News the soldiers have been extremely appreciative of all the donations they've received, shocked at how far help can travel.
"At first, they didn't believe it. 'You brought this from the United States?' I said yeah. 'Wow,'" Koval explained.
As the war continues Koval says it's freedom that keeps soldiers committed to the fight.
"They would say 'the victory is going to be in front of us soon,' that's what they say and its very good to hear that every time morale is high that I can tell you for sure," Koval said.
The family has a registered nonprofit and you can donate or learn more by visiting the website. They also have a list of needed supplies that donors can purchase directly.