WCK's impact to date

In the third year of our Ukraine efforts, we are meeting the most pressing needs of families caught between the fighting in frontline communities. At the same time, our Emergency Response Team is working tirelessly to be at the sites of missile and drone attacks wherever they may happen, supporting impacted families and first responders.

3 years of #ChefsForUkraine

2023 in Ukraine

2022 in Ukraine

Yuliya has been with WCK since the start of the war, first working to coordinate meal production in Lviv and later, expanding operations across the country. Now, she is stepping into a leadership role with a focus on collaboration and strategic response planning.

Meet Yuliya, WCK's Ukraine Response Director

Every day, our teams prepare and deliver thousands of hot, nourishing meals to families living in areas under fire. These meals are often the only source of sustenance for people who have lost access to basic resources due to ongoing fighting. Explore the many ways our team supports Ukrainians need.

Our Emergency Response Team serves meals to families in frontline communities, responding to missile and drone attacks within hours. We support residents and first responders wherever they need us.

Emergency Response

Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced. WCK provides hot meals, food kits, and long-term support to help families rebuild their lives.

Evacuation Support

Designed to sustain families for weeks, WCK food kits contain essential staples—grains, canned goods, and cooking supplies. Since 2022, we’ve delivered over 10 million kits, the equivalent of 206 million meals.

Food & Vegetable Kits

Access to seeds has become a challenge for many Ukrainians due to the conflict. Our Seeds of Hope program provides essential seeds to families and communities, empowering them to grow their own food and support long-term resilience.

Seeds of Hope

During key holidays like Easter or Christmas, WCK ensures families can celebrate with traditional meals, bringing warmth and a sense of normalcy during difficult times.

Spreading Joy

We partner with local restaurants and kitchens across Ukraine, empowering them to prepare meals for their own communities. This not only supports local economies but also helps sustain families in need.

Meet the restaurants feeding Ukrainians impacted by war

Meet the restaurants feeding Ukrainians impacted by the war

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“It’s painful… But we are thankful to the volunteers who support us with food and vegetables.” 
Halyna from Bilohirka lost everything when war reached her southern Ukrainian village. She spent weeks sheltering in a cellar. Her home was destroyed. Now, she and her daughter live in a restored section. WCK provides food to meet their needs and bring comfort. #ChefsForUkraine

Halyna

"The WCK food is 10 out of 10, just like in the best restaurants. Today’s cutlet was very tasty. Last time, we had some delicious ribs. Everything is always great. This support is very important because as you can see behind, our house was severely damaged, we don't have a proper house; we live in a modular home built on our land. It only has one room, bedroom, no kitchen, no toilet, just a place to sleep."

Oleksandr

Andriy, 58 years old, is immensely grateful for the assistance, "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."

Andriy

Stories from the ground

Since our #ChefsForUkraine efforts began, our teams have supported families on the frontlines and in communities liberated from Russian occupation. With support from restaurant partners and our committed Ukraine team, we continued to provide meals and food kits for families living through unthinkable circumstances. Watch the videos below to see how our teams are reaching communities under constant threat of attack.

Life in Donetsk Oblast remains difficult as many residents have no gas, electricity, or water and live in constant fear of Russian missile attacks. WCK continues providing hot meals, food kits, and places to get warm for families in need. 

Donetsk

In the de-occupied Kherson region, communities are trying to adjust to life without reliable water, electricity, or gas. WCK provides grocery kits to families, ensuring they have access to food and a network of support.

Kherson

More about our efforts

WCK's team in Ukraine constantly adapts to meet the needs of impacted families. With the support of a dedicated team of more than 500 Ukrainians, we are reaching cities in active conflict zones, recently liberated towns, and communities hosting displaced families. We’re providing hot meals, fresh bread, potable water, food kits, traditional vegetables, and cooking facilities across Ukraine. Our dedication now, remains as steadfast as it was the day we served our first hot meals to evacuees.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale military operation against Ukraine, triggering mass displacement and exposing civilians to relentless attacks. Millions of Ukrainians sought refuge within the country and abroad, facing immense challenges—including ongoing missile strikes, disrupted supply chains, and widespread food insecurity.

World Central Kitchen responded immediately, setting up at a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in southern Poland to serve hot meals. Our efforts quickly expanded across Europe and into Ukraine, where we now deliver millions of meals directly to communities in need.

In the early months of the invasion, WCK served millions of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as people remaining in the country. Now, we are supporting frontline communities in eastern and southern Ukraine where the need for food is urgent.

In the early months of the invasion, WCK served millions of fresh meals to Ukrainian families caught between the choice of fleeing their homes or facing the ravages of war. Now, we are focused on supporting frontline communities in eastern and southern Ukraine where the need for food has become more urgent than ever. We are supporting Ukrainians the best way we know how: with a freshly prepared plate of food.

WCK provides critical support to Ukrainians impacted by war

FIRST ALERT: WCK is en route to northeastern Australia amid flooding and record rains