March 12th, 2026
70,150 people evacuated from danger to date
48 people evacuated from danger this week
25 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
UTC anniversary: Four Years of Commitment and Responsibility
This month we mark four years since Ukraine TrustChain was established. It is an important moment for our organization, but also a difficult one. When we began this work, we hoped that our role would be temporary. Sadly, four years later, the war in Ukraine continues.
While this anniversary is not a celebration in the traditional sense, it is a moment to reflect on our mission. Over these four years, Ukraine TrustChain has remained focused on supporting transparency, accountability, and trust in humanitarian and reconstruction efforts for Ukraine. This work is not always visible, but it is necessary, especially in times of long, drawn-out crisis. We are proud of what we have built together with our partners, donors, and supporters. At the same time, we recognize the heavy reality behind this anniversary. Every year of our existence also represents another year of hardship for the Ukrainian people. Their resilience continues to inspire our commitment.
As we look forward, we do so with seriousness and determination. We remain dedicated to our principles and to the responsibility entrusted to us. Until peace is restored and our work is no longer needed, Ukraine TrustChain will continue to serve with integrity and purpose.
Thank you for standing with us during these four years.
Stories
Donbas Roads Always on Volunteers’ Minds
Our volunteers who travel to the Ukrainian-held Donbas spend a lot of time telling us about the state of the roads. At first blush, it might seem strange that amid pervasive destruction, the dangers of drone warfare, and the human tragedies, our volunteers worry most about roads. But of course all these things are related. With the winter snow melting away, frontline roads are rough with crumbling asphalt and deep two-foot potholes — obstacles that appear everywhere and force the volunteers to drive slower, making them an easier target for enemy drones.
Despite these difficulties, Ukraine TrustChain volunteers continue their weekly trips. Last week, five Ukrainian teams completed 10 trips to the Donbas. The people of the Donbas need them more than ever, as the Ukrainian stronghold of Kramatorsk is being razed to the ground by Russia’s indiscriminate bombing.
Close Call on Evacuation from Mykolaivka
Evacuation missions in Mykolaivka have become a high-stakes race against technology and terrain. To minimize the risk of drone attacks, the Dobra sprava team now begins operations at 7:00 a.m., navigating roads where 80% of the journey is completely exposed. During a recent mission to rescue a family of three, the team relied heavily on their Chuyka drone detector. This device works by scanning radio frequencies to identify the unique electronic signatures and video signals emitted by nearby drones, alerting the driver to the threat before it is even visible. The device beeps if it detects a drone signal. As the signal draws closer, the Chuyka monitor displays what the drone pilot can see through their goggles. Based on this video, the volunteer team can sometimes identify the terrain and assess where the drone is flying.
During a recent evacuation, the danger became visceral when the detector began chirping incessantly during loading. Just as the family prepared to board, soldiers nearby began firing at an incoming drone. After this there was a loud explosion. A few tense moments later the team pressed on, only to find a smoking military vehicle just 400 meters ahead — a sobering reminder that the drone had found a target nearby. Despite the close call, the team successfully brought the family and their belongings to safety.
Failed Evacuation from Druzhkivka
On March 5, Vitalyi Z. and his team attempted to carry out a pre-planned evacuation of a mother, son, and their belongings from Druzhkivka, in the Kramatorsk District. However, early in the morning, the volunteers were stopped at the nearby checkpoint. Despite having permits to operate in the area, the team was not allowed to pass, due to active shelling, because their vehicles were not armored.
Vitalyi reached out to volunteer friends who had armored transport. They agreed to carry out the evacuation, though they could only take the people with a minimum of belongings. While this rescue operation was underway, the city again came under shelling and the volunteers who arrived to help also came under enemy fire.
During this shelling, tragedy struck: the son of the woman who was to be evacuated was killed. The woman herself was injured and suffered a concussion. She was urgently loaded into an armored van and evacuated without her belongings to a shelter in Kharkiv. The young man's body was retrieved by the military the following day and is currently at the morgue in the city of Sloviansk.
Killed during evacuation from Druzhkivka
Condolences to Olena in Kanev
Olena, a volunteer who leads the Kanev branch of Dina’s organization, has suffered a terrible loss. She has just received news that her husband, Serhiy, was killed in battle. We would like to express our deepest condolences to Olena and wish her strength in these terrible moments. We know that we are joined by hundreds of other people who have received help thanks to her tireless work.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
8 trips, evacuating 35 people.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
20 tons of aid delivered to 7,850 people.
6,600 people received bread.
10 high-risk locations visited last week.
Disinfected and cleaned up 14 spaces in Kherson. Continued to support 25 families in Kherson red zones.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
On, March 3, Vitaliy Z. delivered 350 food packages, medicine, clothing, bread and pet food to Krasnotorka village near Kramatorsk, 4 tons total. The next day the team visited the New Day orphanage, delivering bread and sweets for the children.
Vitaliy Z attempted an evacuation of two people from Druzhkivka, but the trip fell through and one of the evacuees was killed. See story, above.
Oleksandr Z. provided bread and other essential aid to 600 internally displaced people (IDPs) living in Lutsk. Held music and art therapy classes for 106 children. Provided glasses to 38 people. Facilitated providing 120 medical procedures for children from IDP families, children of military personnel and children with disabilities. Helped 36 children to receive wheelchairs, prosthetic services and rehabilitation therapy. Overall 966 people received help.
Darya’s Team
Darya made 3 trips to Kup’yans’k and surrounding villages.
Evacuated 11 people, including 1 immobile person.
Delivered 247 packages to 7 villages near Kup’yans’k, including Lozova Persha, Mykolaivka Persha, Prylyutove, Husynka, Prosyanka, Shypuvate, and Kutkivka.
Karina’s Team – My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
There are currently 108 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team – Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Distributed 90 aid packages in the village of Krutoiarivka, on the border between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Distributed 150 aid packages in villages of Zoryans’ke and Verkhn'ozoryans'ke, near Kup’yans’k, Kharkiv Region.
Distributed food and bedsheets in the orphanage in Mikhailivka, near Smila, Cherkasy Region.
Natasha’s Team – Volontersʹkyy tsentr Vyshnya (Cherry Volunteer Center)
Natasha traveled to Ukrainian-held Donbas again, delivering 241 hygienic packages for Lyman residents and recent refugees surviving in nearby towns.
Timur’s Team – Komanda Teymura Alyeva (Timur Alyev’s Team)
Distributed 211 aid packages to families in Saltivka, Kharkiv.
Special deliveries to 21 disabled elderly and 17 families with infants.
Gave flowers to over 1,000 women on International Women's Day (March 8).
Pavel and Olena’s Teams – Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
98 food packages delivered to Partyzanske.
69 tons of firewood reached the villages of Tavriiske, Afanasiivka and Posad-Pokrovs’ke. While the worst of the winter is behind us, firewood remains essential for cooking, as well as heating.
Held events for children at the Mykolaiv office.
Pomahaem Foundation (We Help Foundation)
92 packages delivered to Tamaryne, Mykolaiv Region.
243 people arrived at Voloske transit center.
Marina’s Team – Daruy dobro Ukrayina (Give Good Ukraine)
150 packages distributed to internally displaced people in the Zhovti Vody community.
Dina’s Team – Vilʹni lyudy, vilʹna krayina (Free People, Free Country)
Distributed 271 packages of food and hygiene aid in Kaniv, Kremenchuk, and Poltava.
Distributed 60 candles in Kremenchuk.
Served 1,350 meals in the soup kitchen.
Distributed 650 food packages in the Kharkiv area.
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 played psychological relief games and attended fine arts, choreography, and culinary classes.
Alena’s Team – Diva (Virgo)
29 wounded in the hospital received medicine.
345 families received bread.
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.
