May 22nd, 2025
67,964 people evacuated from danger to date
80 people evacuated from danger this week
32 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
There were few new events to highlight last week, although the work continued, with the usual risks and efforts. One of the key routes used by our Dnipro volunteers to deliver aid to the Donbas has come under attack. This is a symptom reflecting a larger trend of continued fighting, with slow encroachment by Russian forces on Ukrainian territory. Despite these developments, our Ukrainian teams were busy delivering bread, water, and agricultural supplies, as you can see from stories, and work summaries below.
Stories
Key Donetsk Region Road Under Russian Drone Attack
Two UTC Ukrainian teams that have consistently supported Donetsk Region villages reported that a key road connecting Dobropillya and Kramatorsk has come under enemy fire. Anastasia’s account of the situation was particularly troubling.
As the team was driving from Dnipro toward Kramatorsk, they noticed fewer cars on the road than usual. A soldier at a checkpoint confirmed the volunteers’ fears. The road was rumored to have come under FPV drone attacks overnight.
The teams often have to make risky decisions when delivering aid to frontline regions. This time the volunteers decided to proceed further. However, in a few minutes they came across a car burning at the side of the road, and then a second burning car. Since the cars were still on fire it was clear that enemy drones were active and danger could strike at any moment. Anastasia ordered the drivers to turn back and regroup at the checkpoint.
The team contacted the village for which the aid was slated. The village alderman asked the volunteers to try a different route. However, as is often the case in areas of active fighting, the GPS signal was scrambled. Anastasia’s crew may have made a wrong turn. In any case, they eventually found themselves on the same road they had escaped earlier, only this time there were more cars ablaze on the roadside. Anastasia no longer had the time to deliver the aid before the curfew and had to abort the mission and head back to Dnipro. We did our best to support the volunteers and assure them they had made the right decision.
Agricultural Project Seedling Distribution
In another busy week for seedling distribution, our Ukrainian teams focused on the Kharkiv Region. Since this region is located in the north, the planting season takes place later there, compared to other regions. 3,790 families received seeds and seedlings in 17 locations.
This aid has been particularly important for internally displaced people (IDPs) living in villages around Kharkiv. These villagers often lack means to purchase seedlings. Even with money, however, the logistics of making a trip to the city to buy seedlings are daunting. Without a car, villagers must rely on infrequent buses — which sometimes run only once a week — and then transport the seedlings home by hand.
Help in Occupied Territories
Unfortunately, our intermediaries have lost contact with volunteers in the occupied territories and we are unable to provide reporting this week.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
12 trips and 75 people evacuated.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
20.6 tons of aid delivered to 7,800 people.
6,600 people received bread.
37 towns served, 8 of them in high-risk areas.
Kherson work:
Exterminations in 5 large basements.
Delivered bread to 6 families in red zones.
Refueled 10 generators.
3,970 families received seedlings.
Angelia Charitable Fund
Volodymyr A brought 953 kg of clothing, shoes, equipment for the disabled, food, and medicine from Lüneburg (Germany) to Kyiv. The aid was then transported to an Adventist church in Dnipro. Volodymyr’s wife Lyubov has been living in Germany for over a year. She supports humanitarian aid and selects good quality aid for transport to Ukraine.
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): distributed vitamin complexes to 70 victims of military aggression in the Kyiv Region. Received 130 plastic 10-liter canisters at the Boyarka headquarters, for humanitarian use. Handed over 7 flashlights to clinic employees. Delivered 4 tons of potatoes and rice to an aid distribution center in Ukrainka. Assisted 30 children on the Sumy Region border with Russia with hygiene products. Held a mental health program for 30 adult and 15 child internally displaced people (IDPs) in Boyarka. The program includes a spiritual component, information about health, entertainment for children, lunch, and kits containing food, hygiene products, and toys. 30 kits were distributed. Volunteer Andriy V's team delivered and distributed 2,400 kg worth of food kits to the village of Samotoivka (Sumy Region).
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): delivered 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and 7 tons to Kherson.
Yuri S (Vinnytsia): twice, delivered disposable tableware and food to the Safe Space shelter.
WeCare Centers (Lviv): delivered a total of 5-6 tons of baby food and rice to Uman, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv.
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): delivered 4 tons of humanitarian kits, "Victory" bread, clothes, medicine, and animal feed to the northern edge of the Lyman community. Aid was delivered individually to each requesting address, because the area is so dangerous. Celebrated Vyshyvanka Day in Kharkiv. (Vyshyvanka Day is a holiday that celebrates the making and wearing of ethnic Ukrainian embroidered clothing.)
Artiom S (Hostomel’): delivered 1.5 tons of rice, pasta, cappuccino, other drinks, canned soups, and clothing to the WeCare center in Druzhkivka. This food will be used in serving meals to 150 children who attend WeCare’s day care center and school, and as part of food packages, distributed to the needy.
Oleksandr D (Lutsk): sent 140 kg worth of energy bars to Sandra’s kitchen in Odesa, Vladyslav K’s team in Mykolaiv, and Oleksandr S’ team in Lutsk. Provided assistance to 3 people with disabilities and 1 IDP: 2 received hearing aids, 1 walking aids, and 1 received a grocery set and clothes.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions and aid to IDPs, families of military personnel, children with disabilities, orphans, and amputees – held 2 art therapy sessions for a total of 72 children. Visited a puppet theater with 77 IDP children. Held a family holiday in the village of Shepel’ (Volyn Region) for 70 families of military personnel. 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 80 medical procedures to improve the health of 25 IDP children with disabilities from the Kherson Region. Helped 40 children with prophylactic health procedures, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and gym classes. Through partners, assisted in the manufacture of prostheses and rehabilitation for 12 people.
Kseniia’s Team – Livyy bereh (Left Bank)
Reports from Kharkiv-based Darya were delayed, so the following numbers sum up activities for the last three weeks.
131 packages distributed in Kut’kivka, Kasyanivka, Prylyutove and Smorod’kivka.
23 families evacuated from around Kup’yans’k, from Monachynivka, Stets’kivka, Ridkodub, Vasylivka, and Kut’kivka.
Karina’s Team – My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
104 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team – Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Distributed 120 aid packages in the village of Ternivka, Cherkasy Region.
Natasha’s Team – Volontersʹkyy tsentr Vyshnya (Cherry Volunteer Center)
Natalya traveled to Lyman again, providing aid to the town and to the nearby village of Drobysheve.
261 packages delivered.
Timur’s Team – Komanda Teymura Alyeva (Timur Alyev’s Team)
Distributed 343 aid packages in Kharkiv.
Special home deliveries to 17 disabled elderly and 24 families with infants.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams – Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
400 packages delivered to Pravdyne, 72 to Shevchenkove, and 60 to Novohryhorivka.
2 children’s events held in Mykolaiv.
Pomahaem Foundation (We Help Foundation)
24.5 tons of water delivered to Nikopol.
Marina’s Team – Daruy dobrо Ukrayina (Give Good Ukraine)
150 food and hygiene packages were distributed to internally displaced people in Pyatikhatki.
Dina’s Team — Vilʹni lyudy, vilʹna krayina (Free People, Free Country)
Distributed 626 packages in Kremenchuk, Poltava, Kanev, Dnipro. Mailed 100 packages from Dnipro to small towns.
Served 1,620 meals 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 participated in weekly culinary and art classes.
Alena’s Team – Diva (Virgo)
Distributed 973 loaves of bread and 2,100 yogurts and baby food to 280 internally displaced families in Odesa.
Helping 52 wounded in the hospital.
Anastasia’s Team – LoveUA
Anastasia attempted to make a delivery to Donbas but had to abort the mission, as the road the team was supposed to travel came under attack from Russian FPV drones. See story above.
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