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My name is Mariana Ryviuk (Rydel). I am a patent attorney of Ukraine.  I have not worked much since the invasion. How do you call a person about a trademark if he is at the front fighting or fleeing from Russian shelling? 

I live in Lviv. It is located 60 km from the border with Poland. My city has become strategic in supporting refugees and our soldiers. 

More than 200 thousand refugees have come to Lviv with more arriving daily. My apartment has become a transfer point for both acquaintances and people who just need to rest, wash, and have a chance to decide what to do next. I have had girls fleeing the Bucha shelling come to me at night, people from Kharkiv who hid in a basement for many days, and other people from Kharkiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv. Even citizens of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan too. There was a point when 9 people spent the night in my apartment of 43 square meters. While we are supporting the refugees, we still have to be vigilant. The invaders bomb even as far as Lviv. Air raid siren often sound - day and night. We never know if there will be an explosion. It is hard to sleep. They send infiltration units to target us and sabotage us. We have to patrol constantly to catch them. Even my own son has been out patrolling.  

At the same time as we help refugees, Lviv is trying to support our soldiers. We gather tactical gear like: thermal imagers, walkie-talkies, helmets and body armor. Medical supplies: bandages, medicines, and even tourniquets. Or even basic supplies: thermal underwear, socks, tents, and food. This and much more to keep our soldiers alive, healthy, and able to fight. 

We are transporting humanitarian aid to other affected cities too. I myself only have gone once. To see with my own eyes that reality it is many times scarier! The fact is that the Internet is just the showing the tip of the iceberg. Although the worst sections of the road are closed, there are hundreds of civilian cars shot, looted cafes, shops, and gas stations on the outskirts around Kyiv. 

The war continues and we can't and won't give up now. There has been too much destruction and too many victims. The invaders population is almost 5 times larger than Ukraine's, but we are fighting and doing everything in our power to stop them. We will continue till they leave us in peace. I thank you for the any help or support you can give.