May 6, 2026
News
This winter, Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid caused extensive power outages. As the war entered its fifth year, households were left without heating, electricity, or water during extremely low temperatures. People in the Czech Republic did not hesitate to show their solidarity. In this article, you will learn where the help from your contributions to the Caritas for Ukraine fundraising campaign was directed. Together, we were able to provide immediate assistance, for example, in Kyiv and Kharkiv. We have shown that our support is unbreakable—just like the determination and courage of the people of Ukraine. Thank you!
1. Saving from freezing
In January, due to damage to CHP plants (combined heat and power plants), one of Kyiv’s largest districts—Desnianskyi—lost its electricity and heating supply. Over half a million people remained without light or heat in their homes during the severe frosts. To help the population, the authorities set up numerous heating and resilience centres. Thanks to your donations, we helped to equip such centres in three local schools.
Photo: In points of resilience, people can stay overnight, charge their devices, or just warm up
We purchased and delivered 3 generators, 150 folding beds, 300 mattresses, 30 kettles and extension cords, as well as tea and snacks. Thousands of people were able to warm up, charge their devices and stay overnight in the warmth. Oksana is the principal of School No. 275. One of the resilience and warming centres was set up here. Many children with disabilities attend this school. The school also accommodated dozens of power engineers who came from all over Ukraine to repair damaged CHP plants.
None of the schools was ready to become a shelter for such a large number of people. All we had when the tragedy occurred were school mats, which were unsuitable for the elderly and people with disabilities. I am deeply grateful to everyone who responded and supported us. I am very grateful to your organisation for its immediate response! I hope the war will end as soon as possible and we will be able to thank you in person for caring about us and for standing by us in this difficult time!
Oksana shares. One more generator was provided to a shelter at Lyceum No. 73 in the frontline city of Kharkiv, which has been under constant massive attack since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
2. Uninterrupted power supply and social laundry
Drones and rockets are destroying the energy infrastructure of Ukrainian cities daily. Basic necessities such as a warm shower and laundry are becoming a luxury. During long power cuts and shelling, shelters turn into round-the-clock safe spaces for the most vulnerable people. As part of the Caritas for Ukraine fundraising campaign, we have purchased a powerful inverter, beds and household appliances for the large shelter in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Kyiv.
Photo: We provided the shelter in the Cathedral with beds, inverter, and washing and drying machines
Every day, during air raid alerts, elderly people and families with children from the neighbouring high-rise blocks come here. Thanks to an inverter, the cathedral’s shelter has an uninterrupted power supply, providing heat and light during blackouts. We have also provided two sets of washing and drying machines to set up a social laundry here.
Our shelter has become much more comfortable. People can overnight in comfortable beds, make a cup of tea, charge their appliances, and also wash and dry their clothes. We are extremely grateful for the warmth of your hearts. May the Lord God bless and reward everyone a hundredfold!
Says Fr. Andriy, administrator of the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv.
3. Life-saving equipment
Imagine this: you live in a city where drones hunt down civilian cars and people every day, and rockets destroy entire neighbourhoods. This city is Ukraine's Kharkiv, which is only 30 kilometres from the war zone. Here, despite the war, over 1.3 million people live, work, study and raise children.
To respond promptly to war challenges and the emergencies they cause, Situation Centres operate in Kharkiv. They bring together all the city’s emergency services. We have purchased computer equipment for one of these newly established centres, located 30 metres underground.
Photo: Computer equipment for Situation Centre in Kharkiv
Thanks to this, we are able to respond quickly to emergencies across the city of Kharkiv. First and foremost, to missile strikes. And we will do our best to help the city's residents as quickly as possible. Together to victory! Thank you very much!
Shares Bohdan, Director of the Emergencies Department at Kharkiv City Council.
4. Generator for the kitchen proving meals for thousands of people in need
There is a municipal kitchen in Kharkiv that centrally cooks food for a free food distribution network across the city. We provided a powerful generator that will ensure the kitchen runs smoothly during long power cuts and shelling. Thanks to this, over 45,000 war-affected people can eat for free every day.
5. Drinking water for evacuees
Rocket and drone attacks are ongoing, forcing more and more families to flee their homes. Every day, Lviv railway station receives evacuation trains from eastern Ukraine. Most of the passengers are women with children, elderly people and people with disabilities. When your entire life is packed into a single suitcase, and your heart is filled with fear and pain, it is vital to feel a sense of care again. Thanks to your donations, we provided bottled drinking water to support evacuees arriving from the combat zone.
Photo: Drinking water for evacuees
6. Light and heat for the children’s centre
The ‘Stronger Together’ children’s centre, run by the local Caritas in Drohobych, offers classes and educational courses for children from vulnerable groups. Power cuts during the cold spell caused damage to the heating pipes. This jeopardised the centre’s operations and the children’s safety. We donated a generator to the children’s centre to help ensure its smooth running.
Photo: Generator for children's centre in western Ukraine
We are very grateful for the help provided! The generator ensures an uninterrupted power supply, heating of the premises and the running of educational programmes. For many children, our centre is not only a place of learning, but also a safe space offering support and stability,
Say representatives of “Caritas of the Sambir-Drohobych Diocese” of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The public fundraising campaign called Caritas for Ukraine was launched at the very beginning of the conflict in February 2022. Since then, nearly 190 million Czech crowns have been raised. Thanks to your contributions, we are able to help not only people directly in Ukraine, but also refugees in the Czech Republic.
