April 16th, 2026
70,412 people evacuated from danger to date
41 people evacuated from danger this week
24 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
Both Ukraine and Russia celebrate Easter — according to the Eastern Orthodox tradition for the majority of the population. This year, the Kremlin declared an Easter ceasefire. The truce was agreed to by both Russia and Ukraine and came into force on Saturday afternoon. However, only 38 minutes later, air raid sirens over Kharkiv announced the breaking of the truce by the Russian side. Overnight, before the ceasefire was due to begin, Russian drone strikes also killed at least two people in Odesa.
Stories
A Narrow Escape from Mykolaivka
I didn't think to look at the map beforehand. If I had, I might have hesitated.
— Ihor from Dobra sprava
In Mykolaivka, one street runs along the very crest of a hill, fully exposed to the horizon, where drones hunt for movement. Most of the houses there are already hushed, broken by strikes and uninhabited. But in one darkened home, an elderly woman scurries around, frantically trying to coax her second cat into a carrier, as the sounds of the fighting draw closer.
This was the scene of Dobra sprava’s recent evacuation — a blur of speed and a high-stakes game of survival. As he raced to reach safety, Ihor could see his van on the screen of the drone-detection device. The device shows what the drone above “sees.” This particular drone had its sights on the Dobra sprava van.
It was only thanks to the quick reactions of nearby soldiers, who intercepted the threat just as the van darted between high-rise buildings, that Ihor and his charges made it out unharmed. Later, at a transit center in Kharkiv, the woman and her cats were handed over into the arms of the woman’s granddaughter and the tension finally broke.
Gratitude from People Receiving Agricultural Aid
Our Ukrainian teams are now in the final stages of distributing seeds to households along the front line. Seedlings will be next. 4,560 people received seeds last week. Some of them have asked to pass these words of gratitude to you, who make this aid possible:
Hennadii:
I’m 63 years old, a former resident of the town of Soledar, Donetsk Region [the town was completely destroyed by the Russians in 2022-2023]. I used to be a beekeeper. Since September 14, 2022, I have been renting an apartment in Kamianske. The landlady gives me the use of part of her garden, where I gladly plant crops and watch them grow. This is like an antidepressant for me. Every year I receive seeds from the foundation. For us, displaced persons, this is very significant support. Also, I want thank the sponsors for the quality seeds and wonderful plant varieties. Thank you for helping us, especially us pensioners. We are very much in need of your help. Thank you for not forgetting us. God grant everyone health and peaceful skies!
Oleksandr:
Half a year ago I got into an accident, when a car hit me at a pedestrian crossing. I was bedridden and my wife didn't believe I would be able to walk again, but I’m already walking without a cane and ready to plant the garden! We spent a lot of money on my medical treatement, so the seeds are very much needed right now. Big thank you to everyone.
Zoya:
My name is Zoya, 73 years old, a resident of the city of Kamianske. I am a pensioner, I live alone, but I have a plot of land which I enjoy working. This is the second time I’m receiving seeds from the Dobra sprava foundation and I want to express gratitude for the help and support. Last year, I had a harvest of zucchini, cucumbers, and carrots. Thank you to the sponsors for quality seeds.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
Evacuated 40 people in 9 trips to Sloviansk, Mykolaivka, Druzhkivka, and Kramatorsk.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
4,560 families received seeds for spring planting in the Kharkiv Region.
20.3 tons of aid distributed. 8,150 people received aid, 4,400 people received bread.
38 locations covered, 10 of them in high-risk frontline zones.
Kherson's team refueled 8 generators in danger zones and brought bread to 49 families still living in the neighborhood.
Disinfected 1 large basement; helped clean debris and close windows after shelling.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S. (Boyarka): report for 2 weeks. Received 1 ton of food kits at the Boyarka headquarters for further distribution. Distributed 250 kg of instant rice in Boryspil (Kyiv Region), 150 kg of instant rice in the Chernihiv Region, and 150 kg of medicines and hygiene items in the Chernihiv and Sumy regions. Provided 800 kg of food assistance to families of clergymen in the Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions. Held a social program for the restoration of mental health in Boyarka, attended by 25 adults and 11 children.
Vladyslav K. (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv.
Sandra S. (Odesa): the kitchen is working at full capacity. Despite frequent shellings, work has become easier because of the warmer weather.The team is planning an updated menu for spring – gradually replacing hot beverages with cold ones.
Vitaliy Z. (Kharkiv): delivered 4 tons humanitarian kits, clothes, medicine, and animal feed to Sloviansk. Distributed almost 500 loaves of “Victory” bread in the village of Verbivka, Izium District. Evacuated 1 man from Kramatorsk to Poltava.
Yuri P. (Boryslav): delivered a total of 9 tons of baby food, clothing, and instant food to the cities of Khmelnytskyi, Korosten’, Kharkiv, Ostroh, and Kamin-Kashyrskyi.
Heorhiy M. (Tal’ne): organized a holiday event for over 100 children from remote villages around Tal’ne, as well as their mothers and grandparents. Transportation was provided, as the children were unable to get to Tal’ne on their own. The event included a holiday meal and games. Sent 21 children who lost fathers in the war, or whose parents are currently fighting, to a support and recovery program at You Camp in Bukovina in the Chernivtsi Region.
Yuri S. (Vinnytsia): brought 150 kg of clothing to the psycho-neurological boarding school in Stryzhavka, Vinnytsia Region.
Valeryi K. (Lutsk): provided adult diapers to an elderly woman.
Oleksandr Z. (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions and aid to IDP children and families, children and adults with disabilities, orphans, elderly people, military service members, children from military families and from large families, and amputees in Lutsk, Ostrozhets', and other parts of the Rivne and Volyn regions.1026 children and adults received help, including art therapy, theater therapy, music therapy, zootherapy, sports activities, help with bread and other food, meals served at a social cafe, help with glasses, dental, medical, and preventive procedures, a trip to the museum, and help with the manufacture of wheelchairs for children and prostheses and rehabilitation for adults.This week the medical and supportive interventions were particularly needed because some residents lived within half a mile of the recent shelling.
Karina’s Team – My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
92 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team – Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Distributed 125 aid packages in villages of Zoryans’ke and Verhnezoryans’ke, near Kup’yans’k, Kharkiv Region.
Distributed 90 aid packages in the village of Krutoyarivka, on the border between Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions.
Timur’s Team – Komanda Teymura Alyeva (Timur Alyev’s Team)
Distributed aid packages to 229 people in Saltivka, Kharkiv.
For the Easter holiday weekend, the team delivered 900 paski (Easter cakes) to elderly people in villages near Kharkiv.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams – Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
300 families received packages in Afanasiivka and Novomykolaivka.
50 children with disabilities received packages in Mykolaiv.
6 tons of aid distributed.
Pomahaem Foundation (We Help Foundation)
99 people arrived at Volos’ke shelter.
Marina’s Team – Daruy dobro Ukrayina (Give Good Ukraine)
150 food and hygiene packages were distributed to internally displaced people in Zhovti Vody.
Dina’s Team – Vilʹni lyudy, vilʹna krayina (Free People, Free Country)
Distributed 248 packages in Kanev, Poltava, and Kremenchuk.
Provided legal consultations to 6 people in Kremenchuk.
Served 1,380 meals in the soup kitchen in Kharkiv.
Distributed 250 packages of aid to IDPs in Zlatopil.
Bohdan’s Team — Vse robymo sami (We Do Everything Ourselves)
42 families in Zhytomyr received food and hygiene kits.
This week at the Club for Children with Disabilities, children attended culinary classes.
Alena’s Team – Diva (Virgo)
Distributed bread in Odesa to 324 families.
Anastasia’s Team – LoveUA
Visited the villages of Karpivka, Novopryhozhe, Zelene, Novobakhmutivka, and Yelyzavetivka, distributing 168 food packages and 168 hygiene kits to residents in need.
How to Help
Donate — The money goes directly to teams providing aid on the ground, who respond dynamically to the most urgent needs.
Fundraise — Organize fundraisers at your school, work, place of worship, with friends and family, etc.
Spread the word — Share our website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Bluesky Social with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Fill out this form if you’re interested in volunteering with us, and we’ll let you know when opportunities come up.
Download and print our flyer. Ask your local coffee shop if you can add it to the bulletin, or use it as part of your fundraiser.
