Ukraine now ‘knows the price’ of freedom on Independence Day, says aid worker

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has killed 9,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 5,587 civilians, according to a Ukrainian military chief and statistics from the UN.

Dimko Zhluktenko said his people ‘know the price’ of freedom while reflecting on six months of war (Victoria Jones/PA)

A Ukrainian aid worker said his people now “know the price” of freedom after visiting Ukraine’s worst-hit “ghost cities” and reflecting on six months of war with Russia.

Through Twitter, Dimko Zhluktenko has raised more than 250,000 US dollars worth of military equipment for the Ukrainian army and organised the delivery of thousands of toys to refugee children arriving in Lviv, western Ukraine.