May 15th, 2025
67,884 people evacuated from danger to date
64 people evacuated from danger this week
37 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
We are happy to report that Ukraine TrustChain has successfully completed the 2024 audit of our financials. Our audit reports are available at https://www.ukrainetrustchain.org/transparency where you can also review our audit reports from the previous year. Although everyone working on Ukraine TrustChain works on a volunteer basis, in line with our core principle of maintaining near-zero overhead - our financials are transparent and are compiled in full accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We are honored to continue to serve as a trusted channel for directly supporting the work of Ukrainian volunteer teams.
Stories
UTC Board Attends Annual Benefit for Project Kesher
On May 5th, several Ukraine TrustChain board members attended Project Kesher's Annual Benefit. For three years, UTC has worked with Project Kesher to help Ukrainians during wartime and political unrest. The evening brought together leaders from various organizations, including many partners with whom we work closely, but almost never get to see in person.
The motto for the evening was "One Step Forward, Every Day:" a guiding principle that encourages continuous commitment and perseverance during tough times. This mantra resonated deeply among the participants, motivating them to remain steadfast and to deepen their support of Ukrainians.
In addition to discussing past accomplishments, the benefit also served as a platform to outline future projects aimed at providing sustainable assistance and development in Ukraine. It showcased a variety of planned initiatives, such as educational programs for children, health service expansions, and economic empowerment for women, ensuring that every contribution would be directed toward meaningful change.
UTC board members Ilya Knizhnik (third from left) and Gene Litvin (second from right) with their spouses Heather Knizhnik and Ma Li. On the left are Vlada Nedak of Project Kesher Ukraine and Charita Shteynberg from World of Connections.
Fictitious “Ceasefire” in the Donbas
Despite Russia’s public declarations of a ceasefire during the May holidays, our teams on the ground report that the so-called “quiet” in the Donbas has existed in name only. The Dobra sprava evacuation team described continuous attacks and drone strikes — ten Shahed drones struck Sloviansk alone in the early hours of May 8th. Meanwhile, Anastasia’s Donbas team distributed aid to the sound of explosions. With each trip, the volunteers see fewer and fewer intact houses. People are frightened, but many have no place to go. The temporary aid they receive is often the only support they’ll get.
Agriculture Project in Full Swing
For the third year in a row, we have the pleasure of tracking progress on the distribution of seeds and seedlings to the families who need it most. Our key partner in this endeavor is Inna’s organization, Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope). Last week alone, 4,270 families received thousands of seedlings. These tender plants reached many of the most dangerous parts of Ukraine: they’ve arrived in Kramatorsk, Marhanets’, Sloviansk, Beryslav, and Druzhkivka, among many other locations.
Even without the horrific risks of the warzone, distributing seedlings is a monumental logistical headache. Our teams have 24 hours from the moment the seedlings are picked up from the supplier to deliver them to the final recipient — otherwise the plants can die in the truck. Neither Russian drones, nor artillery shells have managed to prevent the seedling distribution. The weather in some regions did cause some havoc. This year March and early April were particularly warm, but in mid April, Eastern regions experienced sudden cooling, with snow in some parts, which affected the seeds already planted. We are unable to increase the scope of this project to offset these unfortunate developments and are discussing the optimal course of action with our partners.
Help in Occupied Territories
85 families received packages in the occupied territories.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
13 trips evacuating 64 people from Kostyantynivka, Lyman, Pokrovsk, Rodyns’ke, Bilyts’ke, Mezhove, and Shakhove areas.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
20.7 tons of aid delivered to 7,900 people (not counting agricultural project help).
6,600 people received bread.
Aid distributed in 40 cities, 12 of them in high risk areas.
Agricultural project is in the seedling distribution phase. 4,270 families received aid in 16 volunteer centers.
Kherson Operations:
Various exterminations performed in 10 spaces.
Held activities for children still living in Kherson.
Various equipment maintenance and target aid deliveries.
Continued water transportation in Nikopol, and glasses distribution in Nikopol and Marhanets’.
Angelia Charitable Fund
Volunteers Vadym B and Volodymyr M brought 935 kg of clothes, shoes, mattresses, toilets and equipment for the disabled from Möckern, Germany to Chernivtsi, and then from Chernivtsi to Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 7 tons to Kherson.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen operations were on hold due to several days of problems with electricity, which has now been restored.
Yuri S (Vinnytsia): delivered slippers and groceries to the Safe Space shelter.
WeCare Centers (Lviv): delivered 1,100 kg of rice to Lutsk, 1,100 kg of rice and one generator to Korosten’, and 1,100 kg of rice and potatoes to Obukhiv. Brought 16.5 tons of humanitarian aid from Szczecin, Poland to Ukraine for further distribution. This aid includes baby food, which is extremely valuable and frequently requested by large families, displaced persons, and families in crisis.
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): delivered 4 tons of humanitarian kits, "Victory" bread, clothes, medicine, and animal feed to one of the most remote locations in the Lyman community. Provided light summer work clothing to 15 community service workers in Kramatorsk. Distributed 500 loaves of “Victory” bread to the villages of Bairak and Shchurivka in the Balakliya community.
Alla A (Kremenets’): from November, 2024 to February, 2025 the team distributed food and hygiene packages to 200 people, provided rehabilitation services to 40 people, psychological services to 90 people, and day care for 20 people with disabilities.
Oleksandr D (Lutsk): volunteer Vadym brought 1,200 kg of muesli and energy bars from Germany. 3 pallets of this aid was then mailed to Inna’s team in Dnipro; another quarter of the imported aid was given to Oksana K’s team and to 2 Lutsk churches, which work with internally displaced people (IDPs) and children.
Oksana K (Lutsk): distributed 4 baby boxes for newborns, 40 kg of clothing, shoes, blankets, bedspreads, and toys, 15 kg of hygiene products, and 35 kg of food to 16 visitors at the humanitarian aid distribution point in Lutsk. Collected 400-500 kg of adult diapers and urological pads, blankets, bedspreads, and pillows, and took them to the nursing home in the village of Bilostok.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions and aid to IDPs, disabled people, children with disabilities, and orphans – held 2 art therapy sessions for a total of 44 children. Visited a museum with 47 IDPs and their families, and a puppet theater with 50 children with disabilities. Distributed bread and other food to 70 orphaned students from the Sumy and Kherson regions and to 380 other people living in IDP assistance centers. Provided glasses for 55 adults and children. Conducted 88 medical procedures to improve the health of 27 IDP children with disabilities from the Kherson Region. Helped 38 children with prophylactic health procedures, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and gym classes. Through partners, assisted in the manufacture of prostheses and rehabilitation for 22 people.
Kseniia’s Team – Livyy bereh (Left Bank)
The Ukrainian Pavilion opened at the Venice Architecture Biennale, featuring the work of Livyy bereh, sponsored by your donations. Kseniia is taking part in presentations and attempting to raise money for the Ukrainian military.
The team also restored one roof in Zaporizhzhia.
Karina’s Team – My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
104 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team – Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Distributed 150 aid packages in Zaporizhzhia.
DIstributed 50 aid packages to old and disabled people via the Department of Social Services in Smila.
Natasha’s Team – Volontersʹkyy tsentr Vyshnya (Cherry Volunteer Center)
Natalia’s trip to the Donbas has been delayed by one week.
Timur’s Team – Komanda Teymura Alyeva (Timur Alyev’s Team)
Distributed aid packages to 311 seniors in Saltivka, Kharkiv, focusing on the elderly because the team recently noticed some seniors looking through the trash for food remnants.
Special deliveries to 35 disabled elderly and 18 families with infants.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams – Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
285 packages delivered to Dobrokam’yanka and Tavriiske.
Organized 2 events for children in Mykolaiv.
A local volunteer managed to deliver 7 packages to Stanyslav — a village in the deadly red zone west of Kherson.
Pomahaem Foundation (We Help Foundation)
24.5 tons of water delivered to Nikopol.
Conducted a seminar for parents of children with disabilities.
Dina’s Team — Vilʹni lyudy, vilʹna krayina (Free People, Free Country)
355 packages distributed in Kremenchuk, Poltava, and Kanev.
1,370 meals served in Kharkiv’s soup kitchen.
Bohdan’s Team — Vse robymo sami (We Do Everything Ourselves)
42 families in Zhytomyr received food and hygiene kits.
At the club for children with disabilities, children had a cooking lesson where they prepared a spring salad. Results of the cooking class were colorful and delicious!
Alena’s Team – Diva (Virgo)
Distributed 488 loaves of bread in Odesa.
Liza and Katya continue to support Odesa hospitals. 18 new wounded arrived last week, bringing the total wounded the volunteers support to 48.
Anastasia’s Team – LoveUA
Delivered 255 hygiene and 255 food packages to the elderly in Oleksijevo-Druzhkivka.
How to Help
Donate — The money goes directly to teams providing aid on the ground, who respond dynamically to the most urgent needs.
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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.