Ukraine through the eyes of WCK’s Emergency Response Team
As the war in Ukraine enters its sixteenth month, innocent civilians live in a state of constant vigilance. Day after day, Russian missiles and rockets fall on cities and towns, further deteriorating access to food, water, and other basic necessities. World Central Kitchen teams continue adapting to meet the unique needs of both frontline communities and neighborhoods far from the battlefields amid senseless attacks.
Our Emergency Response Team works daily to hone the systems that allow WCK to provide immediate support following Russian attacks—our restaurant partners are ready to begin cooking at a moment’s notice. WCK efforts remain locally led—staff, partners, and volunteers in Ukraine have all been impacted by the war. Still, they show up every day to support people in need.
Come see the work of our Emergency Response Team through the eyes of the Food Fighters providing hope throughout Ukraine, one plate of food at a time.
Bilopillia through the eyes of Ksenia
Bilopillia—located less than 10 miles from the Russian border—is a small city in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion, the city’s streets were lined with historical buildings and friends would meet around the fountain in the central square. Now, the scars of war are visible everywhere.
In the early hours of one March morning, hundreds of shells exploded in the city, killing two people and injuring many others. Ksenia, WCK’s emergency coordinator in Sumy, who lives in the region, saw reports of the attack and immediately contacted local authorities who confirmed that WCK’s support was needed. Ksenia arrived in Bilopillia within hours of the strike.
We had never seen such destruction before. Everything was covered in dust, it was very loud. People were working hard, clearing the roads of debris.
Ksenia
Local Emergency Coordinator in Sumy
Upon arriving at the scene, Ksenia and the rest of the team set up an area for rescue workers and families to rest and eat hot soup and sandwiches while warming up with a cup of tea or coffee. Ksenia couldn’t help but notice a shift in the mood of the people who came to the WCK tent. “Food has a soothing effect, it can save lives, and it can give hope. When people are in a state of stress, they often can’t think about anything else, which is why it’s important to have someone who cares for them, someone who can offer a comforting cup of hot tea,” she said.
Dniprovske through the eyes of Dmytro
Natural disasters are not put on hold during a war. On April 5, torrential rain began to cause flooding in the Chernihiv region. By April 17, roads had become impassable and some homes in the area were completely surrounded by water. Local authorities reached out to WCK and asked for help getting food to families stranded by the rising waters.
The houses looked like islands in the middle of the sea.
Dmytro
Local Emergency Coordinator in Chernihiv
Dmytro, WCK’s emergency coordinator in Chernihiv, lives in the region and responded to the request. He and the WCK team prepared 210 hot meals—30 for emergency workers, and the rest for residents of Dniprovske, a small village impacted by the flooding.
Getting the meals to their destinations was no easy feat. The WCK team joined the local search and rescue team in their Sherp, a vehicle capable of traversing through deep water, hills, and mud. “Interestingly, this vehicle was produced by a Ukrainian manufacturer,” noted Dmytro. Watch the Sherp and WCK team in action.
“People lack not just resources, but also attention and support,” said Dmytro, who spent some time speaking with the families he was providing meals to, adding, “It is important to show that they are not forgotten.”
Dmytro and his team taking a moment to speak with two women who were impacted by the floods.
Mykolaiv through the eyes of Oleksandr
Mykolaiv is a city near the shores of the Black Sea, in the south of Ukraine. Its industrial heritage is evident by the smokestacks nestled among the skyline. At 1:00 am one April night, residents of the city woke to explosions as missiles hit a multi-story building, a historical site, and thirty homes.
WCK’s team in the area donned their gear and arrived on scene by 3:00 am where local authorities asked that meal distribution wait until later that morning so efforts could focus on finding survivors. By 8:00 am our team was cleared to begin providing meals and drinks to rescuers and neighbors. This highlights how response teams on the ground work together to ensure families impacted by an attack get the help they need, when they need it—even if it means holding meal distribution for a few hours.
“The cleanup process lasted well into the next day, and emotions ran high for many residents,” said Oleksandr, WCK’s emergency coordinator in Kherson and Mykolaiv. He understands how important it is for WCK to show up with food for civilians and rescue teams after an attack, adding that “people often have nothing left but the rubble of their homes.”
Despite the challenges faced, our community remains strong and committed to rebuilding. Together, we will overcome this tragedy and emerge stronger as a city and as a nation.
Oleksandr
Local Emergency Coordinator in Kherson and Mykolaiv
Uman through the eyes of Zhanna
On the banks of the Umanka River sits the city of Uman, home to approximately 82,000 people before the war. Uman holds special significance as it houses Sofiyivka Park, one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. The gorgeous park looks like it was pulled from the pages of a storybook—which it was. Designed to include imagery from Homer’s “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey,” there are bronze statues and hidden coves throughout the grounds.
Sofiyivka Park in Uman, one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine
The harsh realities of war clashed with this beautiful backdrop in late April, when 23 people lost their lives in a Russian missile attack. Five of the people killed were children.
When Zhanna, WCK’s emergency coordinator in Kyiv, arrived on the scene, she saw hundreds of civilians waiting for news about their friends and relatives. Hundreds more rescue workers and emergency doctors worked tirelessly to save lives. After speaking with the head of the search and rescue team to determine how best to support survivors and first responders, Zhanna’s team set up their tent and began serving meals to people on site.
People and rescuers often thank us because they feel support in addition to help. They feel reassured that they are not alone during these difficult moments.
Zhanna (center)
Local Emergency Coordinator in Kyiv
Emergency rescue workers have some of the most difficult jobs imaginable, and after a rocket attack, “evacuees may have to wait several hours or even days for permission to return home, until the search operation is completed,” Zhanna explained. It is critical that WCK provide nourishing food for civilians, and also rescue crews, so that they can take a moment to regain their strength in the midst of chaos.
The meals served on the day of the Uman tragedy were prepared by Steak House and Teliachi Nizhnosti, two WCK restaurant partners. Despite being based 130 miles north of Uman in Kyiv, the Steak House team jumped into action immediately after learning of the attack and prepared sandwiches, lunches, and emergency kits to distribute in Uman. Teliachi Nizhnosti, a restaurant based in Uman, has helped feed refugees since the first days of the war. “After the missile attack, they could not stay away and came first with sandwiches and hot meals,” said Zhanna. One of the restaurant’s former employees, Nazar, lives near the site of the attack and came to the WCK tent to volunteer and help his neighbors.
Dnipro through the eyes of Anastasiia
Dnipro, once a bustling city of a million people, has been the target of constant Russian attacks for nearly a year. At 4:29 am on a spring morning, Russian shells again began falling from the sky. Anastasiia, WCK’s emergency coordinator in Dnipro, lives in the city and awoke to the sound of explosions. Rescuers were working to find survivors among the rubble when she and the WCK team arrived.
As soon as we arrived, we were confronted by a cloud of black smoke and smog that made it difficult to breathe.
Anastasiia
Local Emergency Coordinator in Dnipro
Just four hours after the attack, Anastasiia and her team began distributing food and water. “The suffocating smell of burning rubber filled the air, and we could see flames in the distance,” described Anastasiia.
Shoulder-to-shoulder with local restaurant partner Bon Appetit, WCK provided breakfast and lunch for first responders and civilians, along with sandwiches and hot cups of tea.
“Assisting civilians is important, as the majority may be in a state of shock and not realize that they are hungry and in need of sustenance,” said Anastasiia. “By addressing this basic need, we help people maintain energy and focus on other tasks necessary to keep moving forward.”
Ukraine today is different from the Ukraine of sixteen months ago, and yet some things remain the same. The strength, bravery, and selflessness of the Ukrainian people has not diminished. It seems to only grow stronger. Anatolii, WCK’s emergency coordinator in Nikopol, lives in the city and shared a harrowing fact: Nikopol has been under fire since July 12, 2022. “The city is shelled 2-3 times a week, and people have become accustomed to the explosions,” he said. This is his home, a city under constant threat, and yet he continues to work every day to bring food and comfort to his neighbors. “During times of crisis, people require support in the form of food, hot drinks, and other essentials. The WCK team is prepared to provide such assistance directly at the attack site,” he assured.
Learn more about our #ChefsForUkraine response here. For real-time updates, follow WCK on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can support our work by making a donation here.
