Grandy, who created whimsical wooden signs and metal flowers, felt compelled to volunteer in Ukraine when he noticed a shift in American support for the nation. His sister shared that he believed he was making a significant difference and wished to stay longer to help. Unfortunately, he became one of the first American civilians to die in such an attack in the capital. The recent assault was marked by a nine-hour barrage that targeted civilian areas, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The ongoing war has claimed over 13,300 Ukrainian civilian lives since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with the actual numbers possibly much higher. As air raids intensify, hopes for peace are dwindling further.