When violence escalates and daily life is disrupted, people don’t just need food–they need something warm, familiar, and sustaining. One of the many meals WCK teams serve in Ukraine is borsch–a traditional Eastern European beet soup. But, as Ukrainians face renewed violence and an energy crisis during the coldest months of the year, WCK’s Relief Team is serving something a little different.

Across Kyiv and the region, WCK is serving Bohrach. Bohrach is a nourishing stew made with beef or lamb and hearty root vegetables like potatoes and carrots. This traditional Ukrainian dish is slow cooked, deeply savory, and designed to nourish. It feeds communities offering warmth and strength when conditions are uncertain. During an emergency, bohrach is more than a meal–it’s comfort and care in a bowl.

While borsch and Bohrach sound similar, they are entirely different dishes. Borsch is known for its deep red color and tangy flavor. It’s part of everyday life as a cultural staple that is beloved across the region. While these dishes are very different in flavor and preparation, they’re similar in more than just the way their names sound. These dishes nourish people and remind them they are not alone.

Why bohrach and not borsch? WCK’s Culinary Lead in Ukraine, Chef Yuliia, was insistant that our teams serve bohrach in response to the energy crisis. The city is receiving roughly half of the electricity it needs, and unplanned, unpredictable power outages continue across districts, making it hard for households to rely on electric heating or cooking. Bohrach is more hearty and calorie dense than the beloved and more well known borsch—making bohrach the preferred meal of choice in this critical moment.

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