CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine — October 31, 2026 — World Central Kitchen (WCK) is providing hot meals, drinking water, and snacks to hundreds of people evacuated from Oleshky, a town in the Russia-occupied part of Ukraine’s Kherson region, as they arrived in the Chernihiv region following an exhausting journey.

The evacuation took place during a temporary ceasefire established to enable humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. Residents of Oleshky have faced severe shortages of food, clean water and other essential supplies after months without regular deliveries.

WCK’s team was on the ground with fresh meals, water, and snacks, ensuring families had access to food before their next destinations.

World Central Kitchen founder, Chef José Andrés, says:

“For the families arriving from Oleshky, a hot meal is more than food. It’s a moment of comfort after an incredibly difficult journey, a reminder that they have not been forgotten, a message that the world cares for them. Imagine spending months without reliable access to food or clean water, then having to leave your home. At WCK, we want every meal to make people feel like there is hope for a better tomorrow. That starts with seeing the humanity in the people who have suffered this war for far too long.”

Depending on local circumstances and available resources, WCK is planning to provide hot meals where possible or food kits for families who need support. Our teams are working to maintain this vital support while monitoring the needs of evacuated families as they relocate across Ukraine. 

During the ceasefire, WCK also continued supporting people in the Kherson region by providing food kits and gas stove kits. Since 2022, WCK has provided more than 39 million meals in the Kherson region. This support has included freshly prepared meals, food kits, vegetable kits and other food assistance for people affected by the war.

About World Central Kitchen in Ukraine

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a nonprofit organization founded by Chef José Andrés that is first to the frontlines, providing fresh meals in response to crises. Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022, WCK has provided more than 303 million meals across the country, working with local partners to reach people affected by the war.

For more information or media enquiries, please contact:
Roberta Alves, Director of Media Relations
ralves@worldcentralkitchen.org | +1 202.400.7483

Our full media team is reachable at press@wck.org