Life on the Frontline in Orikhiv
Orikhiv was once a thriving city with tree lined paths along the water and historical sites that attracted locals and tourists alike. Now, this frontline city just five miles from the border with Russia bears the scars of relentless shelling. Despite the destruction and daily threat of attack, Orikhiv’s residents remain committed to supporting one another, empowered by World Central Kitchen’s efforts in the region.
Every month, our team delivers 1,200 food kits to Orikhiv and surrounding villages. Each kit contains food for more than 20 meals. Families in the city have been without natural gas for nearly a year, and water and electricity are sporadic luxuries. These food kits offer a reliable lifeline to the Ukrainians still living in this region.
A Community Under Fire
Orikhiv’s lack of gas means no ability to heat homes or cook meals, making daily life incredibly challenging. Water is managed through two wells, with delivery trucks taking the water to communal barrels in the city for residents to access. Electricity is unreliable, often cutting out without warning, forcing people to keep supplies ready and phones charged at all times. The sound of shelling is constant and the explosions create an atmosphere of perpetual unease.
The extent of the damage is obvious in central Orikhiv where only remnants of shops and pharmacies remain. Last August, the Russian military destroyed a municipal institution known as the Center for Culture and Leisure—a treasured cultural heritage site. This monument of architecture and urban planning, once a symbol of community and cultural pride, now stands in ruins. The church nearby is also in ruins. Despite these harsh conditions, the people here remain resolute.
Stories of Resilience
Valentyna is one of the many seniors who benefit from WCK’s support. “WCK’s help is very important for our community because there isn’t a single shop remaining nearby. We hope for the best, despite the difficulties,” she said. Most of the residents that have remained in their homes are seniors holding onto hope for better days.
Andriy is immensely grateful for the support WCK offers. “I am very happy that we are getting food kits from WCK. We feel that someone cares about us. Because here you can’t earn money, you can’t buy food. My workplace was bombed,” he told our team during a recent delivery.
Liudmyla, like her neighbors, shares the same hardships. “WCK’s help is very important because I do not have a job and am not a pensioner, so I do not receive any money from the state. This food from WCK is critical for us,” she said. “We hope that peace will come soon and this horror will end.”
Left: Andriy wheeling food kits to his home. Right: Liudmyla packing food kits onto her bike.
Tamara also hopes for an end to the shelling and violence. “I have lived through so many horrors. Unfortunately, we have no gas supply. There is constant shelling here,” she said. “My only wish is that they would stop. We can adapt to anything else.”
WCK aims to bring not just sustenance, but a reminder that people in communities like Orikhiv are not forgotten. We aim to provide hope, one food kit at a time.
Remembering Our Heroes
On July 10, 2023, four members of WCK’s team lost their lives in the Russian shelling of a community center in Orikhiv. Tetyana, Iryna, Olga, and Vitaliy worked tirelessly to support their fellow Ukrainians. They would receive WCK meal kits and cook them at the center to distribute to people who could not cook for themselves. These four Food Fighters will never be forgotten by their loved ones, their communities, and their WCK family.
Clockwise from top left: Olga, Tatyana, Iryna, and Vitaliy.
Help us continue supporting Ukrainians on the frontlines.
