May 29th, 2025
68,029 people evacuated from danger to date
65 people evacuated from danger this week
39 trips into deoccupied and frontline territories this week
It’s become almost a tradition that each time Western media hypes up the likelihood of a ceasefire, Russia launches large-scale airstrikes against civilians in Ukrainian cities. Last week Kyiv was reeling from 3 days of aerial violence. Natalia and her daughter spent the night at the parking lot as more than 200 Russian rockets and drones attempted to attack the capital. Similar scenes played out in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson. Kharkiv was hit with an FPV drone for the first time during this war, raising the stakes even higher. As the risk levels continue to climb slowly but steadily - we continue to work with our teams encouraging them to be cautious, and when needed providing funds to purchase personal armor or take other protective steps.
Stories
On May 20, the Diva team visited the Pervomais'k community in the Mykolaiv region, an area still reeling from destruction and the aftermath of heavy fighting. The local school and daycare center, which served children from nine nearby villages, had been completely destroyed, and much of the housing and community infrastructure was in ruins. Since then, the kids have been learning online and barely see each other. When the Diva team arrived with yogurt, the kids were thrilled—not just for the treat, but to finally be together in person. They hugged, laughed, and lit up at the chance to reconnect. It was a deeply moving moment.
Kherson Operations
We are honored to support a team of volunteers who continue to live in Kherson, who stay there despite the bombing and the increasing frequency of FPV drone attacks within city limits, with the only goal of supporting people who stay behind. Every week, in Inna’s summary you can see the modest bullet points listing the number of generators refueled and repaired. It’s important to make the effort to remember how important and how hard this effort is. Here is an excerpt from Oleksandr U’s last week’s report:
“When we refuel the generator people from multiple blocks come over to charge their phones and gadgets. We have also delivered gasoline to the Eastern district. There we have a generator that supplies 4 high-rises, perhaps even more now. Almost the entire Yantarne development powers their phones from our generator. Unfortunately, people don’t want to leave, and we can’t drive there. At night, our person bikes there through the outskirts, and brings gasoline there, so that they can stay connected to the world and have light. We continue to help.”
The LoveUA and the Dobra Sprava teams are continuing their collaboration. They deliver aid to frontline regions and conduct evacuations on the same trip. We heard about Serhiy from both teams, as he clearly left an emotional impression on the volunteers.
Serhiy had lived alone in the village of Stepanivka for 32 years. His wife had died before the war, and when staying became impossible, he and his neighbor Volodymyr faced a terrible choice—try to flee or risk dying under fire. Volodymyr had an old Lada, somehow still running despite shrapnel holes and a missing rear window. They packed only the essentials and set off during a break in the shelling.
Near Illinivka, a Russian FPV drone struck the roadside on the driver’s side. Volodymyr was killed instantly. The car rolled to a stop, and by some miracle, Serhiy was unharmed. He crawled out, hid in the bushes for nearly an hour, afraid he might be targeted again. Then, barefoot—having lost his shoes while escaping—he started walking toward Illinivka. Ukrainian soldiers found him and brought him to safety.
Later, on the evacuation bus, Serhiy sat quietly, then said, “That could’ve been my son… he could’ve killed me.” When asked what he meant, he explained, with visible shame, that he was still a Russian citizen, though he had lived in Ukraine for decades and had built a life here. His son, from a previous marriage in Russia, is a professional soldier in the Russian army.
Help in Occupied Territories
218 families received help in 8 occupied towns and villages.
Team Summaries
Alina’s Team – Dobra sprava (Good Deeds)
13 trips evacuating 63 people.
Inna’s Team – Krok z nadiyeyu (Step with Hope)
21 tons of aid were delivered to 47 towns, 11 of them in high risk areas.
1,560 families received seedlings in the final weeks of the Agro-project.
Kherson Operations:
Restored 4 spaces (2 rodent exterminations, 1 restoration after shelling, 1 dehumidification).
11 equipment maintenance tasks.
Transported flour for frontline bakery.
Despite growing dangers delivered aid to 6 Donbas towns.
Clothes distributions in Nikopol region.
Angelia Charitable Fund
Vadym B and Volodymyr M brought 1,000 kg of aid, including clothing, shoes, and equipment for the disabled, from Möckern (Germany) to Chernivtsi. made a humanitarian trip to Germany along the route Chernivtsi-Mekern-Chernivtsi. Brought 1,000 kg of aid: clothing, shoes, equipment for the disabled. This aid was then delivered 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.
Andriy P (Mykolaiv): Distributed remaining food aid from the last trip to Germany. Locations included front-line Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. On a new foreign trip, he brought back a Volvo refrigerator truck, a Ford Transit, an engine, and 40 tires from abroad.
Sandra S (Odesa): prepared 35 liters of pea soup, 35 liters of millet porridge, and 10 liters of vegetable sauce and delivered it to partner NGO Mir, for distribution to internally displaced people (IDPs).
WeCare Centers (Lviv): brought 11.1 tons of baby food, cookies, and dried fruits from Szczecin (Poland) and delivered these to Zaporizhia, Odesa, Kherson, Druzhkivka, Lviv, Uman, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi and other cities.
Vitaliy Z (Kharkiv): delivered 4 tons of humanitarian kits, "Victory" bread, clothes, medicine, and animal feed to an area of Kramatorsk nicknamed the “Refrigerator,” due to the large number of damaged houses, which have been left without roofs. People still continue to live among the ruins. Provided summer uniforms to 7 workers of the housing department in the village of Bilen’ke (Kramatorsk community). These workers are frequently first responders in emergencies and also help people on the street. Organized an architectural tour of Kharkiv for 100 people.
Oleksandr D (Lutsk): Oleksandr’s volunteer Vadym T brought 1,300 kg of food – mainly instant soups – from Poland for Oksana K’s foundation.
Oleksandr Z (Lutsk): provided therapeutic interventions and aid to IDPs, children with disabilities, orphans, and amputees – held 2 art therapy sessions for a total of 64 children and students. Visited a puppet theater with 82 IDP children, students and their families. 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 30 IDP children with disabilities from the Kherson Region. Helped 30 children with prophylactic health procedures, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and gym classes. Through partners, assisted in the manufacture of prostheses and rehabilitation for 8 people.
Karina’s Team – My ryatuyemo Ukrayinu (We Save Ukraine)
109 people in the shelter.
Tetiana’s Team – Dopomoha poruch (Help Is Near)
Distributed 170 aid packages to the recently internally displaced refugees in Smila.
Natasha’s Team – Volontersʹkyy tsentr Vyshnya (Cherry Volunteer Center)
220 packages delivered to Lubymivka in Kherson region.
80 kids packages delivered.
Natalia is loading trucks for her trip to Lyman later this week.
Timur’s Team – Komanda Teymura Alyeva (Timur Alyev’s Team)
The team delivered aid to 343 seniors in Kharkiv.
Special home deliveries to 23 disabled elderly.
They traveled to Kupyansk and evacuated two people. They think they're are less than a hundred left or of a population of 40,000.
Pavel and Olena’s Teams – Dotyk sertsya (Touch of Heart) & Svitanok mriy (Dawn of Dreams)
Delivered aid to Lubomyrivka and Kvitneve 200 packages total.
We approved a special mission to provide garden tools to IDPs trying to make a living in Pravdyne. This need was identified during last week visit.
Conducted free art classes for children 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 packages were distributed to internally displaced people in Pyatikhatki community.
Dina’s Team — Vilʹni lyudy, vilʹna krayina (Free People, Free Country)
355 packages distributed in Kremenchuk, Kanev, Poltava.
Served 1740 meals in Kharkiv’s soup kitchen.
Delivered 500 packages of aid to frontline towns outside of Kharkiv.
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 kids had culinary and art classes, and psychological relief session.
Alena’s Team – Diva (Virgo)
Delivered yogurt to 500 children in the 8 towns of Mykolaiv region.
Distributed dairy products and bread to 523 internally displaced people in Odesa.
Liza and Katya in Odesa continue to help the hospitals. Currently the number of wounded has increased to 48 people, with 6 new arrivals last week.
Anastasia’s Team – LoveUA
Traveled to Oleksijevo-Druzhkivka and delivered 250 packages of food and 250 packages of hygiene products.
How to Help
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