We have returned safely from yet another rescue mission in East Ukraine. The purpose of the trip was three-fold.

Firstly, to transport 17 tons of humanitarian aid to frontline villages including food, clothing, medical supplies for makeshift hospitals and wounded Ukrainian soldiers, ultrasound equipment, wheelchairs, generators, and solar panels.

Secondly, evacuating refugees from villages between Mariupol and Zaporizhzhia in East Ukraine. We sent in buses for picking up evacuees. Together with our local team from Mariupol, we were able to successfully evacuate over 100 villagers from the village of Orekhova, located between Zaporizhzhia and Mariupol while Russian forces shelled the same village from a distance of a few kilometers.

Thirdly, we distributed food to villagers still trapped in the villages of Gulyay Polye and Orekhova. Upon arrival, the village seemed deserted with no one in sight. However, once they heard Chaplain Gennady’s vehicle honk signaling our arrival, people began to appear from underground basements and cellars and make their way toward the vehicles. Everyone had an empty bag.

We made stops along the way in the towns of Bucha and Irpen, where over 500 people were mercilessly tortured and slaughtered.