It’s been more than 1,000 days since the Russia-Ukraine war began. According to the United Nations, more than 12,300 civilians have died during that time.

Haiar Isliamov, a Cornell University student, has worked to help his community back home in Ukraine through his family’s nonprofit, Kuresh. Part of its focus has been getting supplies and bulletproof vests to journalists in Kyiv. They've also been working to relocate people from occupied areas.

“I was the only one, kind of this role fell on me, I would say. So, I had to actually oversee the delivery of those things back and forth, back and forth, back and forth,” said Isliamov, a freshman at Cornell.

One month into the Russia-Ukraine war, he moved to the United States. He traveled back and forth to his home country to help deliver needed supplies to journalists. As he was underage at the time, he was able to make the trips without being drafted.

“In the first couple of months of the war, organized the delivery of first aid kits, bulletproof vests and other equipment to the frontlines in Ukraine and to the journalists, which was our first mission ever,” said Isliamov.

His father has owned a media channel since Russia’s first invasion in 2014.

“My goal throughout my life has always been the intersection. I think, of business and making an impact and as much of an impact as you can possibly make. I would say that my experience with this nonprofit kind of opened my eyes,” said Isliamov.

In 2023, he says, he helped get 10 trucks of perishable items through a farmer’s blockade. And so far, between grants and donations, he says the organization has been able to raise $1.5 million.

“So a vast majority of people in my generation have been thrown around with their lives like that. Their lives have been upended by this specific war right now. And we're tired. We're tired of being thrown around like pawns. We feel that we have a say in our own lives finally. That's why at this point the majority of my friends are in the military doing something related to that, because they feel like if they don't do something now, they will just be pawns forever, moved around and flung around the chessboard in whatever way that you like,” said Isliamov.

He said although they won’t show it, Ukrainian people are under mental distress.

“Ukrainians are very good at not showing their inner workings. And I think that one thing that you have to ask yourself is, 'Is that person OK?' " Isliamov said. "So, I know myself, a lot of times when I've been going to school, I have heard news of a friend of mine dying, or a friend of mine being injured or my best friend being in some sort of area where he's at risk."

He said he isn’t making trips to bring supplies to Ukraine anymore, and the nonprofit is working towards helping the whole front line and rescuing as many people from occupied areas as they can. As for his future business ventures, he’s planning a new business he hopes will make a big impact back at home.

"There's this constant sword of Damocles over your head that you're walking around with,” said Isliamov. “In the end, my goal is to be there and give back to my country. I have a debt to repay, so I will be there to repay that debt, sometime in the future."