WCK teams across Ukraine step up to support after intense attacks
Ukraine’s push into Russia is being met with the heaviest Russian offensive in Ukraine since the start of the invasion. This week, as Ukraine marked Independence Day, hundreds of deadly cruise, drone, and ballistic missiles have fallen across more than a dozen different regions in Ukraine. The strikes Saturday, Sunday, and Monday significantly damaged critical civilian infrastructure, the railway system, and the already strained electrical grid. Hundreds of Ukrainians are once again without power as emergency responders, including WCK teams, work tirelessly to support one another.
Nearly a thousand rescuers and emergency services personnel deployed to more than 50 facilities early this week in response to the surge in Russian strikes. Multiple WCK teams have provided food and water at several of these locations throughout the country.
Zaporizhzhia
In Zaporizhzhia city center and the surrounding district in southwest Ukraine, WCK’s Emergency Response Team supported rescue crews with food and water as they worked to free survivors and recover victims trapped in the rubble of a building. Seven missiles struck residential buildings and other non-military targets. The strikes sparked two separate fires that engulfed three homes and a nearby vehicle. Our Zaporizhzhia team arrived to help after finishing three days of delivering hot meals and water to firefighters by boat. The crews were working to extinguish fires near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Lviv
Russian attacks in the Lviv region in western Ukraine focused on the electrical power grid and gas storage facilities, leaving people in the area without power. Many residents whose wells are controlled by electricity were also without water. WCK served warm meals of bulger, green beans, chicken in a creamy mustard sauce, and cucumber-tomato salads to first responders working as quickly as possible to restore power in the area.
Kryvyi Rih
Three hours west in Kryvyi Rih, Russian missiles hit six shops, four high-rise buildings, several cars, and the city center’s largest hotel—The Aurora—that was filled with civilians. The strike killed at least two people and injured several others. WCK was on site near the hotel providing coffee, water, dehydrated food, energy bars, cookies, sandwiches, and hot meals to anyone in need as emergency crews worked to locate people in what was left of the Aurora Hotel complex.
Kramatorsk
WCK was also in Kramatorsk this weekend where a Russian Iskander missile struck the Sapphire Hotel, killing one person. Citizens of Ukraine, the United States, Great Britain, and journalists from the Reuters news agency were among the injured. In response, our WCK team provided hot meals, sandwiches, and liters of water to those in need.
Kharkiv
Multiple attacks were reported Sunday along the frontlines in Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Sumy. The impact of the strike in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast, was very near a WCK colleague’s home while he and his family were inside. Thankfully, Ruslan and his family suffered only minor injuries. WCK arrived on Ruslan’s street to provide hot lunches, snacks, and drinks to the family, neighbors, and emergency personnel at the scene. Ruslan helps deliver our food kits throughout the Kharkiv region.
Left: Ruslan holds his copy of the WCK Cookbook. Right: Ruslan is still smiling with his fellow WCK team members after being injured in a Russian strike.
WCK Emergency Response Teams and partners in Ukraine will continue supporting the work being done at these locations for as long as we are needed. Stay up to date with the latest information from the ground by signing up to our newsletter to receive more information and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for real time updates.
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