On February 24, 2022, air raid sirens rang out in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as rockets and drones flooded into the country. It was at that point when many Ukrainians began fighting for their lives while many went off to defend their homeland. The Fellowship and our partners in Ukraine have been on the ground helping those in need across various cities that the conflict has affected.
While peace talks have been on and off for the past four years, attacks on critical and civilian infrastructure continue at levels not seen since the start of the war. The cities that suffered the most include Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Odesa. Power, water, and essential utilities have been cut off for several days. During this time of year, residents are forced to find other ways of staying warm due to freezing temperatures.
These regular attacks affect people of all ages, and it’s especially difficult for elderly individuals to cope with the aftermath, particularly those who are lonely or bedridden. Thankfully, we can report that no beneficiaries were killed or injured during the period of February 16–20. Today, clients across Ukraine continue to live without electricity for long hours, with limited heating, and at times without hot or even cold water.
The Fellowship has helped set up 30 warming hubs across Ukraine as well of hundreds of heating units for homes. Our partners in the region have also helped us with distributing food aid to families and communities. We’ve also provided security and essentials for Jewish families to observe the holidays from their bomb shelters.
Our prayers for peace and the people of Ukraine remain as strong as when the war began. At this time marking four years of conflict, we reflect on the damage and the suffering but we must never forget how far we have come and responded. Of course, we also continue our response — thanks to our generous donors who have helped us save lives.
