Humanitarian Support for the Residents of Newly Liberated Bucha
In the first days after the liberation of Bucha from Russian occupation, our foundation’s team carried out an exceptionally important humanitarian mission. On April 5, 2022, we departed from Lviv with essential supplies to support people who had endured a tragedy the entire world would come to know. This was one of the very first trips after the city was brought back under Ukrainian control, at a time when there were no guarantees of safety and logistics were extremely challenging.
Despite the obstacles, by April 6 we reached the city and began distributing humanitarian aid. Our efforts focused on providing for the residents’ basic needs: food, medicine, warm clothing, and hygiene products. Of particular importance was the delivery of insulin for people with diabetes. Among the most difficult moments was the transfer of body bags needed for the exhumation of mass graves.
Main Areas of Assistance
We delivered a humanitarian cargo weighing over 1.5 tons: non-perishable food, warm clothing, hygiene products, baby food, and medicines. Special attention was given to the delivery of insulin for people with diabetes — despite restrictions, we were able to provide the medicine in the necessary quantity.
One of the most morally difficult moments was the transfer of body bags — they were needed for the exhumation of those killed and buried in mass graves that were only beginning to be uncovered after the liberation of the city.
- Medicines, including insulin for people with chronic illnesses
- Non-perishable food products
- Warm clothing, blankets, hygiene items
- Body bags — at the request of municipal services
- Emotional and spiritual support for the community
In addition to our team, other well-known Ukrainians were also present in Bucha that day: Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, who also brought humanitarian aid, and a delegation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine led by Metropolitan Epiphanius. Their presence gave people spiritual strength and the feeling that they had not been forgotten.
This project became not only a mission of assistance but also a symbol of solidarity and humanity.
Days That Changed the City — and Us
The trip to Bucha was not just a volunteer mission — it became a deeply personal experience for every member of our team. It was the moment when the horrors of war were no longer just read about in the news but unfolded as reality before our eyes. The city met us with silence, destroyed facades, empty windows, and the eyes of people who, only yesterday, had no hope of rescue.
The first days after de-occupation were critical — no communication, shortages of food, medicine, and warmth. We saw disoriented, exhausted people emerging from basements, learning once again to trust the world. At that moment, our presence and assistance became an important signal: “You have not been abandoned.”
Mission Timeline
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April 5, 2022:— Departure from Lviv, arrival in Bilohorodka
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April 6, 2022:— Permission granted to enter Bucha, distribution of aid to residents
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April 7, 2022:— Return and preparation of the next shipment
Organization, Logistics, and Coordination
The mission was organized in record time. Within just one day, a shipment of more than 1,500 kg of food, medicines, hygiene products, and clothing was collected and prepared. Volunteers worked around the clock — purchasing, sorting, and packing. An important stage was obtaining permission to enter the city, which at that time was still considered a “grey zone” — official confirmation of safety was required.
Main Tasks of the Mission
- Respond quickly to the humanitarian crisis after de-occupation
- Deliver essential supplies: food, medicines, clothing
- Ensure the availability of insulin and medical drugs
- Provide body bags for municipal services
- Offer moral support to residents who had survived the occupation
Communication with local administrations, clergy, and medical institutions made it possible to deliver aid directly to those who needed it most. Special attention was given to people with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and families with children.
Ми приїхали не як рятівники, а як люди, які просто не могли залишитися осторонь. У такі моменти головне — бути поряд.»
— Волонтер проєкту: Купчин Василь
The preparation and execution of the mission to liberated Bucha became an example of mobility, responsibility, and well-coordinated teamwork. Just a few hours after receiving confirmation of access to the city, the team assembled the cargo, prepared the necessary documentation, and organized the departure from Lviv.
Thanks to the support of donors, volunteer warehouses, and partner pharmacies, we managed to collect more than 1.5 tons of aid, including food, medicines, warm clothing, and hygiene items. Medicines for people with chronic illnesses, particularly insulin, were packed with special care.
The departure took place on the morning of April 5. That same evening, we arrived in Bilohorodka; however, due to limited access and a queue of volunteer vehicles, entry to the city was only permitted on April 6. At that point, we promptly began unloading and distributing aid. By April 7, the team had returned to Lviv to begin preparing the next shipment — this time to Irpin, Borodianka, and other liberated communities.
- Collection of humanitarian cargo in Lviv: food, medicines, warm clothing
- Logistical preparation and obtaining entry permits to the de-occupied territory
- Coordination with local authorities, medical services, and clergy
- Departure, waiting in Bilohorodka, delivery of aid to Bucha
- Return of the team and preparation of the next humanitarian shipment
The mission to liberated Bucha became one of the most emotional and significant for our team. It was not just a trip with humanitarian aid — it was a response to the silence that reigned after the tragedy. We arrived in a city where every stone, every shadow still remembered the pain, and we brought something far greater than material goods — we brought presence, support, and understanding.
People who had lost everything — their homes, loved ones, and sense of safety — began to return to life. And although neither food nor medicine can heal the soul, our presence in the very first days after liberation became a symbol: you are not alone. Many residents said that this visit was the first proof that they were remembered, that they had not been forgotten.
The impact of this mission went beyond a single city. It created a new logistical model for rapid response, established partnership supply channels, and formed a list of urgent needs for the next communities. But most importantly — we built trust: both among those who needed help and those who were ready to provide it.
Project Achievements
- Over 100 residents of Bucha received humanitarian aid
- More than 1,500 kg of food, medicines, and clothing delivered
- Life-saving medicines provided, including insulin for people with chronic illnesses
- Special requests of municipal services fulfilled (body bags)
- Moral and spiritual support given to people who remained after the occupation
- A logistical model created for further trips to de-occupied territories
