June 22, 2023
52,236 people evacuated from danger to date
283 people evacuated from danger this week
43 trips into the deoccupied and frontline territories
We are only two weeks away from the Kakhovka Dam disaster - a tragic milestone in the war and one of busiest times for Ukraine TrustChain US. While our Ukraine teams continued their push this week, the situation started to change and they were forced to adapt quickly. Once again the entire volunteer movement in Ukraine mobilized and was able to resolve pressing issues quickly, particularly those related to food security and short-time supply of water. Across the flood zones in Ukraine controlled territory, we received confirmation that local food banks and warehouses were adequately supplied with food. The help was still needed with transporting the aid to those who need it most. Meanwhile, our teams shifted to other urgent tasks. The villages that lost natural gas supplies received propane tanks, others received tools to begin cleaning up their homes. Two of our larger teams moved some staff into the Kherson region, despite the daily bombardments, and began pumping water out from the highrise basements. Although this disaster has added another layer of destruction that will take years to mitigate, volunteers are identifying next steps with selfless enthusiasm, compassion, and a pinch of dark humor.
We are particularly thankful to the team of Andriy Pinchuk who assisted us with procurement and logistics related to the purchase of generators and motopumps with all the required accessories. In a matter of days this equipment was delivered to teams in the disasters zone and is already in use.
Stories and Highlights
Inna Kampen - Flood Relief operations
The water that came with the flood is receding but the chaos it leaves is in some ways more terrible than the flood itself. There is an unbearable stench everywhere, no water, no gas, and the Russians continue to shell the city from across the river.
Volunteers were only allowed into the city for a few hours due to curfew. In that time they connected with local community organizers. The disaster brought people closer together as neighbors from lower floors had to cooperate with their neighbors upstairs to survive last week. As usual, connections with active local citizens is a key to success.
Last week Ukraine Trust Chain sponsored the purchase of crucial equipment for flood relief: motopumps (that have their own source of energy), hoses, disinfectants, and appropriate waterproof attire.
The process of restoring housing has multiple parts. First, entrances need to be cleared of mud and junk, then water is pumped out, and walls are then chemically disinfected and dried out with thermal equipment. Within Kherson proper, the highest demand is for drying the walls because in many buildings water already receded from the basements. We are still doing a lot of water pumping in multiple rural communities along the Dnipro. Inna’s team is just starting but they have already cleared 10 homes. A group of volunteers led by Aleksandr and Oksana will remain stationed in Kherson for the next 2 months to supervise the process, moving equipment between communities and stepping in to help the elderly residents who might not be able to cope with the problems on their own.
Multiple Teams Continue to Work Together to Supply Humanitarian Aid to Kherson
Alena’s team went on another humanitarian mission. Their first stop was Chernobayivka - where they delivered meat, vegetables, and disposable dishes to a group feeding up to 3000 people. The group is stationed in a school and they prepare meals and feed the rescue workers as well as the people being rescued. The team brought generators, pumps, wheelbarrows and many other requested items and distributed them along the way. They visited the village of Stepanivka where 30% of the homes were flooded, and multiple locations in Kherson, which we are not allowed to mention for security reasons. On their final stop they delivered water boilers to a cafe feeding rescue workers. The street in front of the cafe was covered in ankle deep mud, and shelling continued throughout the day.
Problems with vehicles haunt our teams. NGO “We Are at Home” went to the village of Kizomys, which in addition to being flooded had been almost entirely destroyed by continuous shelling. The few remaining residents were surprised to see the team, as no other support had come to this village. Here, one of the team’s cars came under enemy fire from a mortar or mine that was dropped by a drone. The car was slightly damaged by shrapnel, but, fortunately, no one was harmed.
Timur’s team drove from Kharkiv to Kherson villages along the Dnipro. They delivered food, water and hygiene items to hard-to-access areas, where they reported scenes of devastation, particularly noting the unbearable stench of decay in areas where the water receded.
Other teams continued to collect and forward aid to the Kherson region.
Dina’s team primarily serves Internally Displaced People (IDP’s). Although many of these people have lost their own homes, this week they asked again that the humanitarian aid intended for them be redirected to those in Kherson who need it more. Dina redirected funds to buy pillows, blankets, and bedding and sent it along with donated aid to Alena’s team in Odessa.
We Continue to Support Efforts in the Occupied Territories
We are proud to report to our community that we are able to support relief efforts on the left bank as well, helping people evacuate disaster areas. 95 people along with their pets were evacuated last week. More than 1000 people were fed last week.
Team summaries
Ihor Dobra Sprava (“Good Cause”)
Completed 14 evacuation missions, evacuating 169 people
Helped 30 families around Kherson who suffered from the flooding
Helped a hospital in the town of Toretsk, near the front line. Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Oleksandr D’s Volunteer Networks
Pavlo V (Dnipro): delivered 7530 kg of groceries and potatoes + hygiene products to 602 people in Kramatorsk, Pokrovsk and Sloviansk (all in Donetsk Region). Distributed bread to 100 people in the House of Mercy and House for the Disabled (Dnipropetrovsk Region).
Oleksandr S (Boyarka): delivered 2 tons of humanitarian aid to villages in border Sumy Region and 3,520 tons of humanitarian cargo to the Kyiv Region.
Vladyslav K (Mykolaiv): brought 35 tons of drinking water to Mykolaiv and humanitarian aid to Mykolaiv Region villages affected by flood – Snihurivka, Vasylivka, Pavlivka and Ivano-Kepine.
Sandra S (Odesa): kitchen fed more than 2,500 people, many of them refugees from the flooding in Kherson.
Yury S (Vinnitsa): delivered 1.5 tons of clothes to Horodyshche (Vinnytsa Region) and 1 ton of clothes and 300 kg of cereals to Christians for Israel NGO in Vinnitsa.
Pavlo B (Zaporizhzhia): distributed 160 grocery sets in Vilniansk. Could not get to other locations in the Zaporizhzhia Region because of shelling.
Oksana K (Lutsk): delivered 1,100 kg of medical supplies and groceries to Lviv, and Kyiv (Central Emergency Medical Service Hospital). Delivered hygiene products, household cleaners and groceries to flood victims in Kherson.
Angelia - Mobile Clinic
Services provided over last two weeks: ENT, family doctors, ECG, labs for blood, urine, sugar, TSH, lipidogram, cholesterol.
234 patients received 1023 procedures in Dnipro and Chornomorsk (Odesa Region) and Apostolove (Dnipropetrovsk Region).
1.5-1.7 tons of potatoes delivered to Kramatorsk.
Kseniia’s Team - NGO Livyj Bereh
Kherson team continued targeted distributions in flooded villages: Daryivka, Pryozerne, Komyshany, Inhulets, Fedorivka. 308 families total.
Kseniia arrived in Kherson distributing 160 propane tanks to people who lost access to natural gas.
Delivered an industrial grade water pump that will provide water to three villages around Tyahinka
Meanwhile Darya managed to finally convince families to evacuate from the frontline village of Dvorichne after delivering aid to this continuously shelled settlement.
Roof repairs continue near Kharkiv, volunteers pulled electricity to 4 buildings in Prudianka (otherwise they would’ve needed to wait until winter)
Natasha’s Team - Vysnia Volunteer Center
Demining continued in the village of Lubymivka
On Sunday previous week, Kryvij Rih branch led Tetiana Pasenko finished distribution of seedlings, in northern parts of Kherson region that weren’t flooded
Karina’s Team - We Save Dnipro
There are 61 people in the shelter
Nezalezhna Naciya (Independent Nation) went on humanitarian missions to Snegirivka and Kherson delivering rubber shoes, medicine, water, power banks, and two generators
Delivered two more semi-trucks of water to Nikopol and Marganets
Delivered sleeping bags, medicine, flashlights and power banks to Kurakhovo, Druzhkovka, and Chasov Yar
Alyona - Virgo
The group of sappers we support through Alena continues their work demining towns in the Kherson region.
Continued flood-relief efforts around Kherson (see highlight story above)Inna’s Team
Inna’s Team
23.2 tons of aid distributed to 8,120 people
11,000 people received bread - the need for bread is increasing especially in Eastern deoccupied territories
Expanded flood-relief efforts around Kherson (see highlight story above)
Two trips to Berislav in Kherson region, both during ongoing shellings. 230 packages delivered
Continued distributions at volunteer centers in Kryvyj Rih, Kharkiv, Dnipro regions
Two trips to Kupyansk and Kovsharivka in deoccupied frontline zones
Delivered detergent and other household chemicals to embattled Kramatorssk and Mykolayivka
Timur’s Team – Timur and Team
Took a trip to Kherson region (mentioned above)
Returned to Kivsharivka in Kharkiv region delivering 250 packages there.
170 packages delivered to Tishki
70 deliveries to elderly and disabled in Kharkiv
Tetiana’s Team - Dopomoha Poruch
Distributed aid in Kryvyi Rih at the sight of a rocket strike on an apartment building
Prepared for the upcoming trip to Kherson.
Pavel - Touch of Heart and Dawn of Hope
18 tons of aid delivered to a nursing home, and two boarding schools for orphans
Collected aid from Kyiv, Sumy, Ternopil, Vynnytsia and pushed the help to Kherson regions and villages Afanasivka, Vasylivka,
More than 4500 people fed and received aid through Mykolayiv office.
Andriy - BF Pomahaem
Andriy’s team opened a permanent mission in Kherson, providing aid and supporting flood relief efforts with generators and pumps
Provided generators to power well pumps to restore water supply
Distributed 515 packages in Slavyansk and Lyman (deoccupied territories)
Brought aid to 460 families in 12 (!) villages in Kherson region (mostly along Inhulets - a Dnipro tributary)
53 people (19 of them children) continue to live in Volos’ke shelter
Marina – Good Give Ukraine
Provided food and hygiene kids to 150 elderly individuals and people with disabilities
Delivered a van loaded with aid, medicine, and cleaning supplies to the city of Kherson to help flood victims
The children's center continues conducting English classes and engaging activities for kids
Dina - Vilni Liudy – Vilna Krayina
Distributed 915 packages of aid
Sponsored eye exams and glasses for two children and oral surgery for one child
Bogdan - Vse robymo sami
Conducted inclusive activity filled all-day summer camp “Joy” for 100 children from refugee and low-income families.
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