By Anastasiia Shelukhina, LHI Ukraine Partnership Manager
Come with us to the frontlines of conflict in Ukraine, where resilience and hope shine brightly, even amidst the shadows of war. In October 2024, LHI’s team undertook a four-day journey to deliver aid to struggling frontline villages in the embattled Donetsk region. LHI Ukraine Partnership Manager, Anastasiia Shelukhina, documented this powerful mission in a journal.
Over the first two days, the team visited the villages of Pokrovske, Prosiane, and Odradne, distributing food kits, hygiene products, medical supplies, and other essentials. Despite the pain of war, the villagers shared stories of hope, greeting the team with warm smiles and gestures of gratitude. Anastasiia found herself deeply inspired by their unity—a poignant reminder of humanity's capacity to support one another during the hardest times.
Check out Part I of her field journal here.
Below, Anastasiia recounts the latter half of their mission, as they braved the risks of drone strikes to continue delivering life saving aid to those who need it most.
Day 3: October 9, 2024
As the day began, we sipped coffee and prepared for our mission to Rozdol’ne. We presented our documents as we passed through the checkpoint for approved entry into the village. On the way to Rozdol’ne, two members of the White Angels—an evacuation and paramedics team from the Donetsk Regional Police—joined our team. They warned us that enemy aircraft were looming nearby, making us vulnerable to airstrikes. Before we could safely continue, we had to wait until the drone wasn’t on our radar. As the wait dragged on, we heard that 4 enemy UAV drones were in the air over Velyka Novosilka village, just a few kilometers from our stop. Once we finally received a signal that the threat had been repulsed, we quickly left for Rozdol’ne village.
Distributing aid under the shelter of trees in Rozdol’ne.
We arrived in Rozdol’ne to the sounds of nearby explosions, with local residents waiting for us under two large trees. The active front was very close, and we were still worried about the threat of drone activity. The village head, Lyudmila Petrivna, urged everyone to receive aid as quickly as possible, and despite the tense threat of nearby war, we found comfort in the community’s joy.
Iryna is from the rural village of Zhelanne, which was invaded by Russian forces in October 2024.
One woman named Inna approached me, eager to share her family's story. She revealed that her mother had nine children, and unfortunately, only four of her siblings were still alive. Our conversation was cut short by the urgency of the situation, leaving little time for deeper exchanges.
I also met a well-dressed 76 year old woman with bright red lipstick named Olga Mykhailivna, who received a lovely pair of shoes. Before we left, she kindly asked us to notify her before our next visit, so she could prepare us some savory, deep fried turnovers called chebureky. Her warm gesture touched our hearts and reminded us of the importance of hope during these difficult times.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vlad was busy providing consultations, and was able to see seven patients in total. He expressed disappointment at not being able to help more people, but I reassured him that every bit of support mattered. Before leaving, I hugged Lyudmila Petrivna, the village head, assuring her that our team would return soon. Time was of the essence, and our safety remained a top priority.
On our drive back, we stopped at the White Angels’ house in Bahatyr village to deliver winter car tires for their evacuation vehicle. We thanked them for their invaluable support and contemplated the possibility of adopting a few cats from Velyka Novosilka during the team's next visit.
We collected beautiful red peppers from this field near Bahatyr village.
On our way out, we spotted a field bursting with ripe red peppers. The locals generously offered them for free, urging us to hurry before any shelling resumed. With a few beautiful peppers in hand, we finally returned safely to Pokrovske.
But our mission wasn’t over just yet. The cost of rent in the front-line settlements of the Dnipropetrovsk region, where families from the Donetsk region have been evacuating to, has skyrocketed due to the exponential demand from both civilians and military members. Our final stop was to provide support for a family who was resettled near Pokrovske, and has been struggling with the high cost of living.
Their children, still shocked by the loss of their home, quietly accepted their gifts and quickly returned to their room. We spoke with their mother and agreed to continue our support in the future.
Day 4: October 10, 2024
With the dawn of a new day and bright sunshine, we went to the warehouse in Prosiane. Our mission was to load a bus with essential items, school kits, and toys for 150 children in Prosiane village. We carefully chose blankets, backpacks, and diapers, ensuring we had everything necessary for the little ones.
Yurii distributing toys to children in Prosiane.
By 10 a.m, families were already gathered in the square, eagerly waiting for our arrival. We began distributing the kits, calling out names for families to come forward. The joy on the children’s faces when they received backpacks and toys was heartwarming; they immediately started playing with their new treasures. I joined in the distribution, engaging with local women to discuss their needs, specifically regarding diapers. They requested larger sizes for our next visit, and we promised to bring them.
Once the distribution was complete, we loaded up the remaining items and headed to a nearby cafe for coffee. Children played with local cats and dogs, filling the atmosphere with laughter and warmth. Safely back in the city, we reflected on the day’s experiences and the connections we had made.
This mission showed me the incredible strength and kindness of the people living amid chaos in the Donetsk region. Families who had lost everything still welcomed us with warm smiles. Even with the pain of war on their shoulders, they shared stories of hope and support. Their resilience was inspiring—a true reminder of how strong and united people can be, even during the hardest times.