March 18, 2026 | Critical Causes
Although humanitarian assistance continues, the war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending and continues to devastate civilian life across the country. Ongoing attacks, especially those targeting critical infrastructure have further weakened an already fragile context. At the same time, declining international funding has significantly limited the ability of humanitarian organizations to respond at the scale required. Millions remain displaced, communities are coping with prolonged power outages and insecurity, and frontline areas face daily threats and instability.
In this challenging environment, and through coordinated efforts, we are providing food, shelter, warmth, psychosocial support, and safe spaces for the most vulnerable populations reaching more than 200,000 individuals. These interventions are helping to preserve hope, strengthen community resilience, and ensure that lifesaving assistance continues to reach those most in need, even as the conflict endures.
September 29, 2025 | BFAD in Action
I am responsible for the Ukrainian Baptist Union mobile kitchen and its team in the Kyiv region. I am also one of the main chefs on my team of six people. We usually start our work at 8:30 in the morning, collecting purified water (80 – 100 liters) to bring it to our kitchen. We also carry food and ingredients in order to prepare the daily menu. Chopping ingredients and cooking the food takes about four hours, depending on the number of people expected because our equipment capacity only allows us to cook in small batches. Some days up to 230 people arrive, but on average we feed about 150 hungry souls.
What motivates me and my team to go out every day is our gratitude to God and Jesus, as well as our desire to serve those who need light during these dark times, providing hope and love. During the year and a half of this war, we have seen how people have nearly starved, how they have suffered, grown embittered, fought for a bowl of soup, and stole bread from each other as the only thing to eat. There were those who took away food for their animals so that their pets could live for another day. We also heard about people who were forced to eat their own pets because of extreme hunger, losing their humanity and hope.
The war has changed me and my family a lot. Before the war, I worked at an IT company and held a leadership position, but since the beginning of the war, the Lord has been showing me His miracles and thereby showed me what is most important at this time. First, the Father took us to Lviv and there we helped the displaced people at the church. When the opportunity arose to return to Irpin, we immediately returned to our church where we saw a great need to serve people at the volunteer center.
We didn’t think about anything other than just serving God through serving people and glorifying the Creator, but then my former employer contacted me and told me I could go back to work at the IT company. I had to decide between two choices: “Do I serve and obey God or do I try to get my old life back? It was a very difficult choice for my family since we were completely left without finances, but the Lord gave me the assurance that the Father would not forsake me and that all would be well. So I chose to serve the Creator, and even today I have no regrets. Yes, I don’t have a lot of money and I don’t always have bread on my table, but I see my God’s love and care for me and my family.
During this year and a half, the people we care for have changed. They have become friendlier, they have begun to respect each other, and many have stopped drinking. Many have changed their attitude toward God and to the church, asking for repentance and accepting baptism. Many displaced people are attending church. People are gradually changing. The importance of this ministry is that through food and the Word of God, which people hear every day, people come to know God and thereby change themselves, and only then change others. Through this service, the love of Jesus Christ spreads to everyone. We do not just feed people with food; we feed them with the Word of God.
September 29, 2025 | BFAD in Action
In the heart of the Kyiv region, the Village of Khodoriy became a refuge of hopefulness, thanks to the Ukrainian Baptist Union and the dedicated Skimens Church. A special children’s summer camp welcomed 70 internally displaced children, many of whom have faced unimaginable loss, including the deaths of their fathers during the war. This camp also embraced children with disabilities and those who had endured the harsh realities of military occupation.
Over the course of six days, the BWAid funded mobile kitchen project played a crucial role in creating a vibrant and joyful environment. A dedicated team provided three nutritious meals each day, serving around 90 individuals, including children and local community members. The warm, hearty meals were a source of nourishment and comfort, fostering a sense of belonging and care.
At the camp, the children immersed themselves in a world of creativity and joy. They participated in music sessions, explored their artistic talents, and listened to uplifting Bible stories. Each activity was designed to cater to their emotional and spiritual needs, helping them heal and find solace in the company of peers who understood their struggles.
To add to the magic of the experience, children were treated to special delights they had never tasted before, cotton candy and hotdogs – small luxuries that sparked smiles and laughter. For those few days, the weight of war was lifted, and the children could simply revel in the joy of being children.
As they ran through the fields, played games, and shared stories, the camp became a cherished memory, a brief respite from their pain. In the Village of Khodoriy, amidst the laughter and camaraderie, these children discovered the resilience of their spirits and the beauty of friendship. The summer camp not only provided nourishment for their bodies but also ignited hope and joy in their hearts, reminding them that even in difficult times, moments of happiness are always within reach.
September 29, 2025 | BFAD in Action
Iryna Klymenko, a resident of Kharkiv, shares:
“In July 2023, I first visited the ‘Evangelical Life’ church and immediately found warmth and support. This year, I was also welcomed to meals prepared by the mobile kitchen. The church has become a place of spiritual encouragement, unity, and hope for me. I am especially grateful to the ministers, sponsors, and volunteers of ‘Evangelical Life’ church who selflessly serve people during this challenging time.”
September 29, 2025 | BFAD in Action
A woman from Zhytomyr, with tears in her eyes, shares her story and gratitude for the medicine and support she has received:
“A year before the war, my husband tragically died at work from an electric shock. The day before the war began, my eldest son came to visit me. When he heard that the fighting had started, he immediately left for Bucha to bring his wife and child to safety. Sadly, he never made it. After the area was liberated, his car was found riddled with bullets on the roadside, alongside others, near a mass grave where his body was also discovered.
My younger son joined the army from the very first days of the war and was severely wounded in battle. He spent a long time in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Now, he is unfit for military service, but because his medical documents were lost, he only receives minimal financial assistance and cannot be granted a disability status.
Despite this immense suffering, I am deeply grateful for the medicine and all the help that has been provided to me. In the darkest of times, it has been a true lifeline.”
