Since the beginning of hostilities in February 2022, nearly one-third of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes.

However, there are still those who don’t have a chance to leave and are forced to live at war under continuous shelling.

After the beginning of the full-scale war, Emmanuil Charity Association started responding to the most urgent needs of war-affected population through distribution of food bags. 

63-year-old Volodymyr Kalinichenko has lived in Maksimilianivka village, Donetsk region, his whole life. The last 8 years he is living at war and the eerie sounds of destruction are nothing new for him. Shells and rockets have repeatedly hit the neighboring houses and whole villages. The man hoped and believed that his house would stand despite of continuous shelling.

“I’m used to everything, because I’ve seen a lot in my 63 years. I have no fear of war any more. Unfortunately, the war knocked on my door with exquisite cruelty. One day I was watching TV when I heard my dog barking in the year. I walked out of the house and was surprised to see that there was no one there. In that very moment a projectile hit my house, exploded in the roof and, destroying the walls and roof, and the roof collapsed”.

“I couldn’t understand what was happening, but one thought did not leave me: “God loves me very much”! Why did the dog bark at the moment of projectile hit?  How could I leave the house a few seconds before the explosion? I have no idea how this could possibly happen! But I am sure happy to be among the alive! If it hadn’t been God, I would be buried by now.”

“To be honest, it’s really hard to survive at war, especially with a such small pension as mine. I am so grateful to Emmanuil Association for the food survival kits, they are life-saving. I am also grateful to the Bethlehem Church for the construction materials that will be used to cover my windows and continue my cold existence in this damn war. It is only thanks to the caring people, that I will be able to survive in these circumstances. I hope I’ll be able to survive this winter, when the frost comes!”

Join to help needy people:  https://helpua.org/ua/home-1/

CBN-Emmanuil