December 18th, 2025
69,761 people evacuated from danger to date
52 people evacuated from danger this week
46 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
Last week, Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine left Odesa, Kherson and other cities without power. This time the damage has felt especially significant, as Russia targetet not only power stations, but also various residential elements of the grid. Entire cities were left in the dark, relying only on emergency generators to supply power.
Odesa also experienced a real water shortage, as it is more dependent on power for its water supply than other citites. Multi-hour queues formed near Odesan water distribution centers. Our Dnipro volunteers responded by traveling to Odesa to distribute 2,500 bottles of water to local invincibility points.
The situation in Kherson seems even more dire. Russian rockets destroyed the local combined heat and power plant, leaving most of the city’s high-rises without heat and power.
Marina and her team Daruy dobro Ukrayina. also endured a devastating attack on their hometown of Piatykhatky. From midnight until five in the morning, the city was under continuous shelling, with explosions following one after another, leaving residents without sleep and in constant fear. The attacks destroyed critical infrastructure, including the railway station, power station, and substations. Marina’s husband’s workplace was also destroyed, and all schools in the city will stay closed for at least a week. It was a night that will be remembered: full of fear, prayers, and endurance, followed by deep concern for how the community will recover in the days ahead.
As we move into the final stretch of the year, we also want to share a quick update on our matching campaign. Thanks to your generosity, we have now reached 46% of our $75,000 year-end match goal. Every dollar donated continues to be matched, doubling its impact and allowing our volunteers to respond quickly to urgent needs like water delivery, firewood, evacuations, and emergency aid. This is a powerful moment to donate, or to help spread the word about our work.
Stories
Kherson’s “Cave People” Receive Working Toilet
On October 30, we shared the story of Alena and her team Virgo, who traveled from Odesa to Kherson to support residents of two multi-story buildings. These locals, who ironically referred to themselves as “cave people,” have been living for more than two years in a communal, unfinished basement shelter. At the time, one detail stood out as especially stark: there was no toilet. People were forced to relieve themselves in buckets and chamber pots, which had to be emptied by climbing unstable ladders to reach exposed sewer pipes near the basement ceiling.
This week, the basement dwellers had a cause for celebration — Diva delivered and installed a working toilet in their basement. The mood of the residents noticeably lifted. People gathered around the new toilet, illuminated by flashlight in the surrounding basement darkness. After thanking the volunteers for their “gift” residents dared to wish for more. Half jokingly, one woman said: “Now, if we had a shower stall, we would be really happy.” Another quipped, “And it would be great if the bombs would stop.”
This small upgrade will make the harsh life of the basement residents palpably more bearable — a little safer, more convenient and dignified. And it gives them a glimmer of hope that things can get better. “Everybody promised us a toilet,” said one local. “The Americans promised, and the French promised. But you delivered.”
Help for Nikopol’ Amid Explosions
Karina’s team set out for Nikopol’ knowing that the city was under constant shelling. On the way in, their vehicle broke down, and, for a moment, it seemed the mission might end before it began. But assistance arrived immediately. The van was towed to a repair shop; volunteer drivers brought four cars, and the aid was quickly reloaded, so the team could continue.
All of this happened amid explosions and drone attacks, while local residents waited in shelters, unable to come out because conditions were too dangerous. When the team finally arrived, people emerged tired and frightened, yet deeply grateful. They received 295 food packages filled with essentials that can be prepared without electricity or gas, enough to help families get through the coming weeks. For the people of Nikopol’, these packages are more than food. They are a sign of care, solidarity, and the assurance that they have not been forgotten. The community sends their heartfelt gratitude to the donors of Ukraine TrustChain for making this mission possible.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
8 trips, evacuating 37 people, 7 of them children.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
7,900 people received aid.
Bread distributed to 6,600 people.
20.7 tons of aid delivered to 39 locations, 13 of them high-risk areas.
161 tons of firewood delivered to Kramatorsk, Shevchenkove,Samar, Pokatilovka, Bulakhovka, Mospanovo and Dnipro.
Kherson team refueled generators and delivered fuel to Kherson’s red-zone neighborhoods.
Delivered aid to 23 families in Kherson high-risk zones, and covered blown out windows for 1 family.
Disinfected large basement in Kherson.
Volunteers again reached Druzhkiva.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S. (Boyarka): report for 2 weeks. Kyiv Region: delivered 150 canisters to the team’s headquarters in Boyarka for use in distributing humanitarian aid. Received 90 kg of household appliances at the Boyarka headquarters for further distribution to those in need. Delivered 500 kg of household appliances, 500 kg of food and other humanitarian aid, and 20 canisters to internally displaced people (IDPs) in Makariv. Held a social event in Boyarka for children from socially vulnerable groups and IDP children. Sumy Region: brought baby food and clothes for needy families to the region, which is under almost round-the-clock enemy fire.Ukrainian-held Donetsk Region: delivered 2 tons of aid to Kramatorsk and 2.5 tons of food kits and clothing to Sloviansk. Also,distributed a total of 4.5 tons of aid to residents of the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions and a total of 2 tons of aid, including vegetables and other food products, textiles, household items, food and hygiene items to residents of the Kyiv, Sumy and Chernihiv regions.
Vladyslav K. (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv.
Sandra S. (Odesa): due to enemy attacks on Odesa, the kitchen was without electricity, water and heat and had to postpone work.
Yuri S. (Vinnytsia): on 4 different days, brought food to 39 people staying at the “Safe Space” overnight homeless shelter in Vinnytsia. Brought 30 kg of fruits, vegetables, and clothing to 10 IDPs staying at the “Harmony” center. Delivered 15 kg of clothes and a wheelchair for a person with disabilities.
Vitaliy Z. (Kharkiv): delivered 3 tons of humanitarian kits, clothes, medicine, and animal feed to Shabelkivka, Kramatorsk District. Delivered over 500 loaves of “Victory” bread to Kramatorsk. Delivered 90 tons of fuel briquettes to 300 households in Husarivka and Nova Husarivka, Izium District. Delivered 1 cubic meter of firewood each to 150 families in the unoccupied village of Zalyman, also in Izium District.
WeCare Centers (Lviv): delivered a total of 5.5 tons of rice to Kremenets’, Obukhiv, Uman, and Odesa.
Oleksandr D. (Lutsk): provided 12 cubic meters of firewood to the Blagodat’-Ukraina in Kharkiv – a charitable organization that cares for IDPs.Brought 1 ton of cereals, muesli, medicines, clothes, and shoes from Germany and mailed these to Pavlo B.’s group in Zaporizhzhia.
Oleksandr Z. (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions and aid to IDP children and families, children and adults with disabilities, orphans, elderly people, military service members, and amputees in Lutsk, Ostrozhets' and other parts of the Rivne and Volyn regions. 891 children and adults received help, including art therapy, theater therapy, music therapy, visits to the theater and to a museum, help with bread and other food, help with glasses, dental, medical, and preventive procedures, and help with the manufacture of prostheses and rehabilitation.
Darya’s Team
Due to the Ukrainian push near Kup’yans’k Darya was able to make 3 trips to the frontline last week.
15 people evacuated from 6 villages around Kup’yans’k.
140 packages distributed in Kutkivka, Kasyanivka, Kurochkyne, and Prosyanka.
Karina’s Team – My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
Delivered 295 packages of aid to Nikopol’.
Installed battery-powered light sources in the shelter.
Shelter is currently housing 104 people, 54 of them long term.
Tetiana’s Team – Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Distributed 140 aid packages to recently displaced internal refugees in Smila.
Mailed 50 aid packages to the village of Odnorobivka, Kharkiv Region.
Natasha’s Team – Volontersʹkyy tsentr Vyshnya (Cherry Volunteer Center)
Despite the worsening frontline situation, Natalya delivered packages to 228 families in Lyman and to refugees from Lyman who have recently fled to Sloviansk.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams – Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
473 families received aid packages in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.
Reached Dobrokamyanka, Partyzans’ke, Zasillya, Novohryhorivka, and Tavriiske.
50 families with children with disabilities received aid in Mykolaiv.
Pomahaem Foundation (We Help Foundation)
146 new people arrived in Volos’ke shelter. The stream of refugees is slower than before, but still active.
2,500 bottles of water delivered and distributed in Odesa after a complete blackout of the city.
Team completed 16 trips last week, 6 to Zaporizhzhia villages (Novomykolaivka and Vil’nyans’k), 8 in Dnipropetrovsk Region, 1 trip to Nikopol’ and one to Odesa.
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 353 packages of aid in Kanev, Kremenchuk, Poltava, and Dnipro.
Helped 50 newly arrived families in Kremenchuk with clothing and household goods.
Kharkiv soup kitchen served 1,850 meals, distributed 100 packages of aid to newly arrived displaced people from Kup’yans’k, and gifted 100 packages of candy to children.
Bohdan’s Team — Vse robymo sami (We Do Everything Ourselves)
40 families in Zhytomyr received food and hygiene kits.
At the Club for Children with Disabilities, children attended art and culinary classes.
Alena’s Team – Diva (Virgo)
Helped 45 wounded in the hospital in Odesa.
268 people received bread in Odesa.
Anna’s Team – Nezalezhna natsiya (Independent Nation)
240 tons of water delivered in Kherson Region to the villages of Tavriiske and Nova Zorya.
Anastasia’s Team – LoveUA
Traveled to Holubivka, Ocheretyne, and Hromova Balka, delivering 191 sets of hygiene products, 191 packages of food, and 57 gifts for children.
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.
