- Dette innlegget er også tilgjengelig på norsk.
This article is also available in Norwegian.
Anneliese Pitz is back in Norway from a six-day trip to Ukraine. The car she drove was purchased using donations received following the passing of her husband, Norwegian writer Roy Jacobsen. Roy was an honorary member of Fritt Ukraina – a title bestowed on only one person to date. Their engagement with Ukraine was a shared commitment, and Anneliese returns from Ukraine with renewed inspiration to carry it forward.
Not done with Ukraine
When Roy Jacobsen passed away on 18 October 2025, he was not done with Ukraine. The plan was for him and Anneliese to go there together, bringing equipment for Fritt Ukraina, just as they had done the first time, in March 2023.
– He wanted to travel further into the country, eastwards, closer to the front, to talk to the soldiers. This immediate contact with them was so important to Roy. He admired their courage and determination. He wanted to bring their message home to Norway – and to write about it. To inspire engagement. To keep people alert.
Ukraine is high on the agenda at Anneliese Pitz’s home, just as it was when Roy was still alive.
– We had at least two podcasts a day: updates, military and political analysis … Roy was incredibly keen to keep attention focused on Ukraine. Indeed, we were often ‘briefed’ on the latest developments over Sunday dinner, Anneliese says with a smile.
Lviv, Kyiv, Bucha
Anneliese visited the cities of Lviv and Kyiv. From Kyiv, she also travelled to Bucha, the town 25 km north-west of Kyiv that was under Russian occupation during the first month of the full-scale invasion. When the town was de-occupied in early April 2022, it became clear that the Russians had committed horrific war crimes. During 33 days of Russian occupation, 561 civilians were killed, including 12 children. Many of the victims bore signs of torture.
– It was a very profound experience. We stood by the memorial, where names and dates are engraved. I saw the names of people born in the same year as me, as my son, and as other members of my family. The youngest victim was a child of just eighteen months. A cruelty beyond comprehension.
– The Field of Mars – the memorial cemetery in Lviv – also made a strong impression on me. The sight is overwhelming: the sheer number of graves, the flags, and always a photograph of the fallen … And it was a bit of a bold move on my part to go there without Roy. But it went alright.
Meeting the soldiers
As always, meetings with Ukrainian soldiers were also on the agenda. The soldiers travel all the way from the front line to pick up vehicles and equipment. Many of Fritt Ukraina’s volunteer drivers have been to Ukraine numerous times and are on first-name terms with soldiers and partners. A sense of community is forged at every handover, and it grows stronger with every trip.
Anneliese got to meet several of them. One of the soldiers was only 25, she says, but had nevertheless been in the military since 2017. He has been fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region.
– He says to us, who are standing there full of admiration: ‘I am just doing my job!’
A linguist by training, Anneliese began learning Ukrainian almost the day after 24 February 2022, and was able to practise a little in her conversations with the soldiers. – But in intense situations, the right words don’t always come to mind quickly enough, she says, with a hint of resignation.
– I think I’ll have to go back again, so I can talk more to the soldiers and other Ukrainians in Ukrainian!
In Roy’s spirit
Convoy no. 119 consisted of six vehicles, including a car funded by donations following Roy’s passing. The car was delivered to ‘Spy’ (call sign), a close friend of Fritt Ukraina, who serves in a special forces unit in the Sumy region. he convoy also delivered Starlink equipment to maintain communications along the border, as well as computers for use at Ukrainian positions.
Several people in the group were friends of Roy and Anneliese, and there was plenty of fond memories shared during the drive.
– In a way, Roy was with us on the trip, says Anneliese. – It was clear to us whenever we experienced something ‘he would surely have liked’: the whole trip, of course, travelling to Ukraine with all the equipment, but also individual moments, encounters and incidents. I’m incredibly glad that this trip actually took place. The comradeship in the group was truly exceptional.”
Fritt Ukraina provides us with the opportunity to act
In March 2023, Anneliese and Roy were among the ‘pioneers’ on a trip with Fritt Ukraina. By 2026, the organisation has become a smoothly running enterprise in all areas, including travel logistics.
– Any tour operator would be envious! – laughs Anneliese, before turning serious again:
– We are so lucky to have Fritt Ukraina, which enables people to put their commitment into action. Fritt Ukraina brings out the potential in its volunteers. They help us to be brave.
– I am immensely proud that Anneliese is carrying forward Roy’s deep commitment to Ukraine’s struggle, says Natalia Golis, director of Fritt Ukraina. – His spirit and his words remind us every day of the power inherent in each individual action. Ukraine would not be standing strong today without civilian support—both through donations and through the voluntary efforts carried out day after day.
Roy and Anneliese were among the first to put this into practice when they travelled to Ukraine in 2023.
– I made this trip for Roy, says Anneliese, – but also to keep my own commitment strong. People can feel powerless in the face of war and suffering. Organizations like Fritt Ukraina help us overcome this sense of powerlessness and show us that we can actually make a difference. We can help save lives. The organization is a vital catalyst for action and commitment.
Anneliese is keen to help raise awareness of the situation in Ukraine and its significance for the whole of Europe. She wants to inspire others to get involved. The trip has given her a new insight into just how important this is. And this was entirely deliberate on Anneliese’s part:
– I want to expose myself to the reality, she said before the group set off. – In Norway, we can ‘take a break’ from the war. The Ukrainians cannot. We must not look away. Even those who have been active before and made an effort. One must and can always do more!
